Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful and celebrate family and food. Though it’s okay to occasionally indulge and celebrate, find out the pros and cons that your Thanksgiving feast will have on your teeth.
Turkey: As the star of the Thanksgiving meal, turkey is (thankfully!) not too hard on your teeth. Full of protein and low in sugar, the only potential issue is turkey getting stuck between your teeth – nothing a little flossing can’t fix.
Yams: Yams have healthy benefits like being rich in vitamins A and C, both of which are good for keeping gums healthy. Watch out for how they’re prepared, though – candied yams have additional sugars and marshmallows that can stick to teeth and eventually can cause tooth decay if you don’t brush afterwards.
Mashed potatoes and gravy: Like yams, potatoes are a good source of vitamin C as well as B6 and potassium, but their starchiness provides a Thanksgiving feast for cavity-causing bacteria.
Green bean casserole: Green beans, onions and mushrooms are all healthy foods, so there are good health benefits to this side dish. Like turkey, the only potential downside is having it get stuck in your teeth.
Cranberry sauce: Other than being tasty, there’s not a whole lot in cranberry sauce that’s good for teeth. They’re tart and acidic, and typically a lot of sugar is added to balance it out. It can also temporarily stain teeth.
Pumpkin Pie: The good news is that pumpkin has vitamin A; the bad news is that all of the added sugars doesn’t make this the best treat for your teeth. Instead of waiting a while after dinner, save some room and have your slice pie shortly after your Thanksgiving feast – this keeps up saliva production and helps wash away the leftover food sitting on your teeth.
Give Dakota Dental a call for more preventive dental care tips and how to take care of your teeth this holiday season. For healthy teeth this holiday season and beyond, schedule your appointment at Dakota Dental today.