4 Ways to Appreciate Your Teeth This Thanksgiving

It’s almost that time of year again! Whether you’ve been looking forward to catching up with relatives, or you are just spending Thanksgiving with your significant other this year, there is nothing quite like a delicious, home-cooked meal – especially when everyone in the family is contributing. However, Thanksgiving isn’t the best holiday when it comes to your pearly whites. Read on to learn some holiday tips to appreciate your smile as you celebrate Thanksgiving.

Keep Some Floss with You

Whether you are staying home this year or traveling to catch up with friends and family, you should keep some dental floss on hand. For many, Thanksgiving is a day-long event with all sorts of different courses. You’re bound to get some pieces of food stuck between your teeth throughout the day. Between courses, take some time to thoroughly floss to keep your smile fresh

Reserve Room for Protein

Fortunately, not every Thanksgiving dish is terrible for your smile. While it’s a good idea to limit your portions of starchier foods, like dinner rolls and stuffing, a hunk of turkey will do your smile good. Turkey contains phosphorus and protein. Both are essential for strong teeth and bones. Be sure to load up your plate with lots of vegetables as well.

Avoid Sticky Foods

A few Thanksgiving staples include cranberry sauce, gravy, and pecan pie. Unfortunately, these are all damaging to your smile. They stick to your teeth and can cause you to develop cavities. If you feel like you can’t give these dishes up, just limit your portion size. After you finish up these sides, rinse your mouth with some water. This can help to limit some of their harmful effects.

Be Wary of Wine

Do you like to enjoy a glass of wine with your Thanksgiving meal? The issue with this is that wine is very acidic. It will stain your teeth and weaken your enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities. Having a glass of water or milk would be a better option. If you want an adult beverage, stick to light beer or have a gin and tonic in place of wine.

You don’t have to give up all of your favorite dishes this year, but you should be aware of how they affect your smile. By making mindful decisions and using the tips listed above, you can enter the holiday season with excellent oral health!

About the Practice

At Third Street Dental, we have a team of three skilled dentists serving the Columbus community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need conveniently under one roof. For more information or to schedule an appointment at our office, visit our website or call (614) 228-4850.