Tooth-Friendly Foods for Thanksgiving

dana-walters-tooth-friendly-thanksgivingThanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays for families. When you think of Thanksgiving, not many sugary treats come to mind. However, there are some foods that can actually benefit your oral health.

Tooth-Friendly Healthy Food

If the main dish on your holiday table is turkey, it is an excellent start. Turkey is rich in protein. The phosphorous in turkey builds strong tooth enamel for healthy teeth.

Milk is not your only source of calcium. Green vegetables should be a part of your meal. In addition to dark green leafy vegetables, one-holiday favorite is the green bean casserole.

Your guests can have more calcium if you serve macaroni and cheese. Individuals of all ages love this dish.

Healthy gums need Vitamin C and Vitamin A. You can find both vitamins in yams. You do not need to coat your yams in a sweet syrup or bake them with marshmallows on top. Everyone will enjoy the delicious taste of natural yams. If you wish, you can add a bit of butter for flavor.

Thanksgiving dessert can be tooth-friendly, too. Instead of sweet pies, prepare a pumpkin pie. The pumpkin filling contains Vitamin A to protect your gums, and it can help build healthy enamel on your teeth.

As an alternative, serve fresh fruit with plain yogurt. Guests who do not like pumpkin will appreciate this option. For the healthiest teeth, choose crunchy fruits such as apples and pears.

Oral Health On Thanksgiving

Everyone present on Thanksgiving can enjoy a wonderful meal with tooth-friendly foods. After dinner, though, home oral care is important. Before everybody goes in to watch the football game, or outdoors for cool-weather activities, schedule time to brush and floss.

When you choose healthy food that is good for your teeth and emphasize oral care afterward, your family members and guests can all have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving.