Tweak your Thanksgiving with Teeth-Friendly Foods
Turkey
What we Like: Protein power packed with every bite.
What we Don’t Like: Those turkey fibers can get trapped in between tooth spaces, making for an uncomfortable aftermath. Floss it up after the meal.
Gobble that gobbler for a good protein intake!
Cranberry Sauce
What we Like: It adds color and a delicious taste to the meal
What we Don’t Like: The tart acidic taste is usually sweetened with sugar. Not so good for dental health and the color stays in the tiny nooks and crannies of your pearly whites. Rinse with water and swallow if at the table to dilute the redness and acid.
Yams
What we Like: Sweet potatoes have many vitamins. Vitamin A promotes vision, growth, cell division, reproduction and immunity and Vitamin C promotes collagen formation to keep bone and gums healthy.
What we Don’t Like: Many yam recipes have marshmallows in them. Sticky marshmallows stay on your teeth and promote bacterial growth. Drink abundant water to wash leftover sugars. food.
Green Bean Casserole
What we Like: “Green beans, mushrooms and onions are healthy foods.
What we Don’t Like: Like the other Thanksgiving treats, these can be sticky get stuck in your teeth. Keep floss handy to loosen up debris between the teeth.
Macaroni and Cheese
What we Like: Comfort food with health benefits! Cheese and milk contain calcium. This helps strengthen teeth enamel and bones.
What we Don’t Like: Cheese can be gooey and sticky as is pasta which is starchy and can leave carbs on your teeth. To repeat a point, use your brush and floss later, but of course not at the table.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
What we Like: Potatoes also contain vitamin C, as well as B6 and potassium.
What we Don’t Like: But potatoes are starchy with carbohydrates; bacteria love the sugars in starch.
Enjoy but don’t overdo the carbohydrate loaded gravy.
Pumpkin Pie
What we Like: Who knew that pumpkin pie has Vitamin A as well with numerous oral and body benefits.
What we Don’t Like: that crust is delicious with added sugar and in the whipped topping.
This is a once-a-year treat, serves a useful purpose, since eating sweets shortly after meals keeps saliva flowing to wash away leftover food.