As a holiday, Thanksgiving isn’t exactly known for health and wellness. People associate it with all-day feasting on a wide variety of items. Still, you can always make the day a bit better for your teeth. In fact, you might consider some Thanksgiving foods to swap for a healthier smile. Your Peabody dentist even knows a few good ones to switch. Read on, then, to learn four products to swap out for a more smile-friendly Thanksgiving.
Swap Turkey Legs for Sliced Turkey
Turkey legs may be tasty, but they can also threaten your teeth. Biting one might scrape your pearly whites against the bone. If that happened, you might chip and break a tooth. You’d then have to make a trip to the emergency dentist.
Luckily, you can swap out a turkey leg for sliced turkey. The latter has the same flavor without the risks of a bone. Plus, it’d help your smile with phosphorus – a mineral that strengthens your teeth and jaw.
Swap Desserts for Low-Sugar Items
Even if they’re traditional, many Thanksgiving desserts aren’t great for grins. A lot of them have bunches of sugar, which causes cavities and gum disease. Some good examples are pecan pie, cookies, ice cream, and cakes.
A good workaround is to swap out high-sugar desserts for low-sugar ones. For instance, you might try pumpkin pie. This item has less sugar than the pecan alternative and can boost oral health. In particular, it has a bunch of vitamin A – a nutrient that maintains healthy gums.
Swap Dried Fruits for Fresh Ones
Dried fruits are used in many Thanksgiving appetizers, but they can damage your smile. Those like apricots, prunes, and raisins are surprisingly high in sugar. Plus, their chewiness makes them cling to teeth and erode more enamel.
Rather than dried fruits, try eating fresh ones for Thanksgiving. Apples and pears have less sugar and go down easily. Also, many are water-filled and stimulate saliva production. They’d thus remove more bacteria and sugar from your mouth.
Swap Alcohol for Water
While beer and wine are Thanksgiving staples, they don’t do your mouth any favors. Their high acidity will erode your teeth over time. Plus, red wine’s dark tint could easily stain your chompers. You’d then have a discolored smile for your holiday photos.
This Thanksgiving, swap out alcohol for water. The latter liquid will prevent dehydration and won’t erode your enamel. Better yet, it’ll rinse your mouth of “leftovers” and harmful germs.
In the coming days, think of Thanksgiving foods to swap for a healthier smile. Your feast will be just as delicious, and your teeth will stay vibrant!
About the Author
Dr. Spiro Saati is a dentist based in Peabody, MA, having earned his DMD from Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He’s very well-versed in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as emergency dental care. At the same time, his affiliations include the Northshore District Dental Society and the Harvard Dental School. Dr. Saati currently practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable at his website or by phone at (978)-531-2185.