Gobble Gobble. Thanksgiving is a food lover's dream.
I GOT BEANS, GREENS, POTATOES, TOMATOES, LAMB, HOGS, MAWS, YOUUUU NAMMMEEE ITTTT !!!! Wow, my favorite holiday song.
Anyway, thanksgiving food is phenomenal, but...
What are some things you can do to make sure your teeth are happy and healthy during your beautiful feast?
Personally, my favorite thanksgiving dish is green bean casserole. Arguably the best dish, but we don't need to argue. From a dental standpoint, not a super problematic dish. But, those of us that also love candied yams, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce - we have some things to worry about (I love all of these). Let’s talk about how you can keep your teeth healthy this thanksgiving.
Less Sugar, More Veggies
Stick to the “healthy” options - veggies, turkey, etc. These typically contain less sugars and tend to wreak less havoc on your teeth. Cavities need bacteria and bacterial byproducts to form/progress. High sugar diets are typically the culprit. And during thanksgiving we consume a lot of added sugars - but it is a holiday so no judgment here! Enjoy your family and delicious food, but let's come up with a game plan to protect those teeth!
Side note: Starchy foods are hidden cavity producers. Things like mashed potatoes and bread are food sources for you, but also cavity producing bacteria. Along with sugary foods, it is ideal to limit the consumption of these foods as well.
The sugary sticky side dishes are the cavity producers - cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie casserole, marshmallows. Annoyingly, these are some of my all time favorite foods. Am I telling you to avoid these joy producing dishes? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Just prepare accordingly. Read below.
“But, doc I am at someone else's house…it is not like I can brush my teeth.”
Sure, totally understandable. The “problem” with holiday eating is... it is an all day affair. So your mouth doesn't have time to get back to its “normal” state. Every time we eat, the acidity of our mouth changes and this is what makes us susceptible to cavities.
It can sometimes take 30 minutes to an hour to get back to this state of normal. When we consume food or snacks all day this allows the cavity producing bacteria to flourish!
So, one way to combat this is to rinse with water. Another tactic is to chew gum after a meal. This is a great way to “clean” your teeth on the go. You can have your cake and eat it too. I PROMISE.
Conclusion:
So let’s recap: Eat your food, rinse with water, repeat. This is the key to success. If you have chewing gum that is sugar free, this is a great way to keep your teeth clean between meals this holiday season. A combination of both of the above tactics will set you up for success!
It is also helpful if you get a dental appointment prior to the holidays. We can make sure your mouth is optimized for the holiday season. We don’t want any dental emergencies to ruin your holiday cheer! As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions! Happy holidays!
Want to optimize your homecare? Read out blog on THE RIGHT WAY TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH.
Happy Thanksgiving From Us At Dose of Dental!
2023 is almost over and we all have so much to be thankful for and so much to reflect on. We are grateful we get to provide you with answers to your dental questions. What a beautiful year it has been! As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We can be reached on our home page (click the "click here" button under "Have a dental question you want answered?") or DM us on Instagram @YourDailyDoseOfDental.
