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Serve Foods for Healthy Teeth this Thanksgiving

Healthy Thanksgiving Foods for TeethThanksgiving is just over a week away and your dental health is probably not at the top of your mind. Thanksgiving is a time to spend time with family, enjoy a day of relaxation, and give thanks for all of the good in your life. But, what if you could do double duty? It’s definitely possible to enjoy your holiday, stuff your face with delicious food, all the while keeping your teeth healthy!

We’ll be honest and say that it’s a bit of a stretch to say that Thanksgiving dinner is great for your teeth – kind of like saying potato chips are healthy because they’re “kind-of” a vegetable. However, there are a few elements of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner that do provide benefit to your dental health. Check out these foods for healthy teeth:

  • Veggie Tray – We know, the veggie tray may not be your favorite element of a Thanksgiving feast, but vegetables are one of the best foods for healthy teeth! All of those crisp, raw veggies help to clean the plaque from your teeth and freashen your breath! Vitamins in veggies, such as vitamin C, help to protect gums from infection and cell damage over time.
  • Cranberries – Despite popular belief, it’s not sugar itself that causes tooth decay. Streptococcus mutans are pesky bacteria that live in the mouth, feed on the sugars you eat, and produce acid that causes decay. That sticky white substance that makes your teeth feel fuzzy after eating is actually a conglomerate of molecules called glucans. These glucans create a fortress that allows the S. mutans to safely eat away at the sugars on your teeth. The good news is that cranberries have been found to contain compounds that disrupt the glucan building process. Scientists have isolated the molecule A-type proanthocyanidins as one of the most effective compounds in cranberries for inhibiting gulcans and leaving the S. mutans unprotected and vulnerable. A study by Caries Research found that when the isolated cranberry molecules were applied to the teeth, cavity formation in rats decreased by approximately 45 percent.
  • Milk – Wash down all that food with a big glass of milk! The high levels of calcium and phosphorus in milk prove to be extremely beneficial for building strong teeth, especially in kids and teens. Additionally, the casein protein found in milk forms a thin layer of film on the tooth surface which can help protect the teeth from acid.

What will you serve at your Thanksgiving dinner next week? We’d love to hear some of your recipes that include these foods for healthy teeth!

About Walbridge Dental

The team here at Walbridge Dental wishes you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! Located in Millbury, Ohio, Walbridge Dental is your go-to dental office for the most comprehensive care in the area. Our office will be closed over the holiday, but please feel free to contact us if you have questions about Thanksgiving foods for healthy teeth or would like to make an appointment!

Phone: (419) 836-1033

Email: walbridgedental@sbcglobal.net

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