Thanksgiving Dishes and Your Teeth

Thanksgiving is a wonderful and warm holiday to spend with family and friends. However, it is also a time to take care of yourself, and part of taking care of you is looking out for your oral health. What are some healthy good Thanksgiving dishes that are tooth-friendly in description? Please continue to read on here.

Is Thanksgiving Feast good for one’s teeth or not?

The answer to this question is this; Turkey is indeed very good to eat and for an individual’s teeth . Turkey is the main course in a Thanksgiving Holiday meal and the reason it is fine to eat is clear. It is because it is very packed up with essential protein. The bad side of turkey for some is the fact that it can be difficult to eat at times, as pieces of it can get stuck in between teeth. Turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving food show.

What’s the good and bad about Cranberry Sauce?

Cranberry Sauce is something that a lot of people do love. They appreciate the tradition and the tastiness that goes along with it. Cranberries are naturally tart.  Because they are bitter, sugar or sugar substitutes are often used with recipes, and they can be sticky and acidic. Another downside to cranberries is that they can temporarily stain your teeth and get stuck in between your teeth.

What about Yams, Green Bean Casserole, Macaroni and Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy?

Yams are naturally rich in Vitamins A and C, which help keep gums healthy. However, Candied Yams aren’t good for teeth, as they are sticky foods and have marshmallows in them, and those types of food cause damage to teeth. Green Bean Casserole contains green beans and mushrooms that are generally healthy for teeth. Macaroni and Cheese has calcium, which makes for strong teeth. However cheese can be gooey and white pasta can be starchy, which leaves sugar behind on teeth. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy are a great dietary source for Vitamin C, B6, and potassium. The downside of potatoes is they are starchy and bacteria that causes cavities love the sugar in starch.

What about Pumpkin Pie?

Last but not least, Pumpkin Pie has Vitamin A, and it is what keeps gums healthy and helps to build the outer enamel on teeth. However pie usually has added sugar, which generally isn’t good for oral health.

Conclusion

While many of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes have both positive and negatives in terms of oral health, it’s important to be knowledgable about the things that can help or harm your teeth. If preparing the meal, try not to use substitutes, or any added sugar, as these can turn otherwise teeth-healthy dishes into ones to avoid. If you think you had too much sugar, or are behind on your bi-annual dental checkup, feel free to schedule and appointment.