A gorgeous, healthy grin is a lot to be thankful for, but keeping it looking and feeling its best is a year-round effort. With the holidays approaching and some big meals on the schedule, it’s important to remember to safeguard your teeth and gums even when you’re celebrating. While there’s certainly no shortage of smile-friendly side dishes out there, here are four your dentist recommends avoiding to protect your oral health this Thanksgiving!
Cranberry Sauce
While it’s true that cranberries are fruit and thus made by nature, the canned variety many people enjoy during the holidays is also packed with added sugar and jellied into a sticky, gooey texture that clings to your teeth, increasing your risk of enamel erosion and cavities. Thus, if you’re a fan of the flavor but want to protect your smile, can the canned sauce and prepare your berries fresh so you’ll absorb all of their innate health benefits like polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins C, E, and K!
Stuffing
Stuffing gets its flavor from an abundance of savory ingredients including spices, butter, and broth. Unfortunately, it’s also loaded with carbohydrates, which are a favorite food of not just people, but the dangerous oral bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Worse yet, all that butter and broth will eventually break down into sugar, too! If you still do insist on stuffing, avoid putting dried fruit in it (more sticky sugar!), drink plenty of water, and load up your plate with fresh veggies and even a variety of hard cheeses to help clean and strengthen your teeth while you dine.
Candied Yams / Sweet Potatoes
It should come as no surprise that candied yams and sweet potatoes made the avoid list, especially since they literally have “candy” in their name. Between the added brown sugar, marshmallows, and already sweet flavoring of the vegetable, they can be very dangerous to your teeth and gums. Worse yet, since marshmallows are notoriously gooey, all that sugar can stick around in grooves of your teeth and increase your risk of cavities and decay. If you insist on your favorite root veggie anyway, be sure to watch your portion size, add some fresh veggies to your meal, and brush well after eating. Or, better still, to enjoy all the health benefits of the actual vegetable, try roasting or broiling it instead. You’ll likely find it’s already sweet enough without needing to add anything else!
Macaroni & Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a year-round favorite and can be a delicious accompaniment to any Thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately, however, it’s packed with refined carbohydrates which can break down into sugars in your smile, feeding those feisty oral bacteria that wreak havoc on your mouth. While you don’t have to totally skip this savory side, if you do indulge, be sure it’s in moderation, and fill up your plate with plenty of healthy options like turkey and veggies, too!
Remember, when you have a healthy, beautiful smile, you’ve got plenty to be thankful for. So, don’t put your oral health in peril this Thanksgiving, and be mindful about your choices at every meal so you’ll have the best foundation for a gorgeous, glowing grin all year long!
About Dr. Thomas
Dr. Kyrslyne Thomas earned her undergraduate degree at Georgia State University and her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Medical College of Georgia. Today, she is a certified Invisalign provider, and proudly holds memberships in the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Clear Aligners. To schedule a checkup and cleaning at Elora Dental Studio, visit our website or call us today at 832-520-2949.