4 Tooth-Friendly Tips for This Thanksgiving

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Thanksgiving this year—especially if you’re a foodie! With so many classic dishes to prepare and enjoy as well as updated, modern iterations of your favorites, a food coma is all but inevitable for many of us. However, you’ll still want to be a little careful; as delicious as many of these foods and drinks are, you’ll still want to put your oral health first this holiday season. Here are some tips from your dentist in North Dallas to help make your Thanksgiving a little more tooth-friendly!

1. Reduce Your Sugar Consumption

There are several holiday foods that can attack your enamel and create extra plaque that contributes to dental problems. Many traditional Thanksgiving options like sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and more are all very sugar-filled and potentially harmful for your teeth! Even starchy options like mashed potatoes and stuffing can create harmful plaque. If you can cut down the sugar content in your Thanksgiving meal, or at the very least clean your mouth throughout the day, your teeth will thank you.

2. Be Careful When Eating Hard or Sharp Foods

Sugary and starchy items aren’t all you need to worry about; some foods can injure your teeth and gums in other ways! Items that break down into hard or sharp pieces can stab your gums, get stuck between teeth, and even become lodged in dentures, braces, or other oral devices. Be careful around pre-meal snack options like chips, nuts, hard candies, popcorn, and other treats.

3. Avoid Continuous Snacking

It’s not always about the type of food you’re eating—sometimes the amount of food you’re eating can also pose a threat to your oral health! When you eat extra food consistently throughout the day, you’re continuously exposing your teeth and gums to plaque that’s almost certain to lead to dental problems! You should try to stick to designated eating times instead of grazing throughout the day. Of course, you should also brush your teeth after dinner!

4. Be Selective About Your Beverages

And it’s not always about what you eat, either—beverages can also pose challenges for your oral health around the holidays. If you enjoy a glass of wine or warm mug of cider or hot cocoa with your meal, you’ll be adding extra acid to your mouth that can break down your enamel. Other drinks, including alcoholic beverages with added sugar, can dry up your mouth and create a suitable environment for bacteria to thrive. You should think about drinking water with your meal; it’s the absolute best beverage for your oral health!

Don’t let any unforeseen or unexpected oral health issues derail your holiday plans this year! By following these tips, you can ensure that your pearly whites look and feel their best so that you can focus on enjoying all of your favorite Thanksgiving festivities!      

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry has proudly served patients and families in the North Dallas area for several years. The practice is pleased to offer a wide range of services including various preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to contact the practice online to find the closest location to you.