As Thanksgiving nears, you may look forward to good food. That’s only natural – the holiday is well-known as a time of feasting! However, you can always make Turkey Day healthier for your teeth. Now’s a good chance to try smile-friendly swaps for Thanksgiving. Switching out dishes would ensure your grin stays strong during the fun. Luckily, your Copperas Cove dentist has a few pointers. Here are four foods to swap on Thanksgiving to protect your pearly whites.
Swap Buttered Rolls for Veggies
When Thanksgiving starts, it’s easy to load up on rolls as an appetizer. Still, these loaves of bread can damage your teeth. Their starches attract harmful bacteria, which erode tooth enamel with acids.
Instead of rolls, fill your Turkey Day plate with veggies. Carrots and bell peppers have vitamin C for healthy gums. Meanwhile, broccoli and leafy greens contain calcium – a mineral that strengthens teeth. You might even try Brussels sprouts, as their vitamin K protects your smile.
Swap Bone-In Meat for Sliced Kinds
Turkey and steak are tasty Thanksgiving foods, but they could also hurt your grin. If they contain bones, you might scrape or chip a tooth. From there, you’d need to see an emergency dentist. That certainly wouldn’t be a good holiday experience.
Fortunately, you can swap out bone-in meats for sliced kinds. The latter taste great and go easy on your chompers. Better yet, they contain protein and phosphorus. Such minerals would strengthen your teeth and jaws.
Swap Pecan Pie for Pumpkin Pie
Pecan pie may be a Thanksgiving staple, but it isn’t good for grins. The dessert has roughly 31 grams of sugar per slice. As such, eating it will put you at risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
If you must indulge your sweet tooth, switch things up and eat pumpkin pie. This other treat has less sugar than the pecan-based alternative. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamin A – a nutrient that keeps gums healthy.
Swap Red Wine for Water
Should you drink wine on Thanksgiving, your smile might suffer. The drink is naturally acidic and slowly erodes tooth enamel. Worse yet, its coloring and tannins can stain your chompers. The result would be discolored teeth that look bad in holiday photos.
If you can, drink water instead of alcohol on Thanksgiving. The former beverage keeps you hydrated and won’t wear down your teeth. It’ll also remove “leftovers” and harmful germs from your mouth.
As you can see, smile-friendly swaps for Thanksgiving are worthwhile. Note the ones above to ensure your holiday grin is healthy!
About the Practice
Benchmark Family Dental is based in Copperas Cove, TX. Led by Dr. Caraveo, our practice is committed to amazing, personalized dentistry. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as emergency dental procedures. Our team also provides several sedation options, which can ease and relieve a patient’s dental anxiety. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (254)-547-4866.