Everyone knows that the secret to a great Thanksgiving is good food. You might already have in mind what you want to make this year, but if you’re interested in protecting your oral health through the holiday season, there are a few more considerations you may need to make.
To show your family how thankful you are for them, you can come up with a Thanksgiving dinner that can preserve their oral health. Here are a few tips you may want to keep in mind.
Keep Starches to a Minimum
Most people are well aware of the effects that sugars can have on the teeth, but the truth is that starchy foods can be just as much of a problem. Starches are broken down by the saliva into simple sugars, which are consumed by the bacteria in the mouth just as quickly as those you’d get from sweets. Foods like stuffing can be nasty on your teeth, so you may want to limit how many you put on the table this Thanksgiving.
Make it Filling
Speaking of saliva, its role in the mouth is to break down food particles and neutralize the pH of the mouth. This is vitally important to long term oral health, but as you may imagine, it takes a while for your mouth to do this effectively. If you’re snacking constantly, your saliva may not have time to do its job.
To discourage snacking, you can make Thanksgiving dinner nice and filling. Make substantial and delicious foods that will leave people too full to even think about snacking for the rest of the day!
Add Vegetables
While vegetables aren’t always people’s favorite part of Thanksgiving, when they’re prepared well they can absolutely steal the show. They can also be great for the teeth; green vegetables contain vitamins essential for bone growth. Not to mention they’re much healthier than pie and stuffing.
You don’t have to compromise a great Thanksgiving for the sake of good oral health.
Keep these tips in mind to keep your family and their teeth in great condition through the holidays!
About the Author
Dr. Eduart Shkurti has been practicing dentistry for nearly two decades, and he feels it’s his responsibility to use his extensive clinical expertise for the benefit of others. That’s why he makes every patient feel welcome in his office, and provides them with everything they need to be in excellent oral health. Dr. Shkurti originally studied dentistry in Albania before moving to the U.S., where he received his degree from the University of Southern California. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the New York Dental Society.
If you have any questions about how to maintain excellent oral health, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (718) 806-1662.