Teeth are important and need to be looked after year round, but especially during the holidays.
The holidays are loaded with goodies starting with Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Day. With that being said it’s not only your waistline that pays the price for your holiday frivolity.
While you may think you won’t have any fun if you avoid sugar and starches during the holidays you can still enjoy yourself if you moderate your food intact.
Below are some teeth friendly foods that you can enjoy.
Fruits Veggies and Teeth
While they might not sound like a ton of fun during the holidays they can be. Keep them savory with some delicious dips or make things sweet by adding fruit, honey or molasses.
If you are eating more fruit than veggies be sure to keep your citrus to a minimum. Citrus fruits eat away at the enamel on your teeth.
If you must eat citrus have your tangerine, lime, lemon or Kiwi with a meal. If you do eat a piece of fruit on its own, rinse with water after consuming.
Calcium Rich Foods
Dairy products are popular all year round but especially during the holidays. Hit the cheese table at your work Christmas party and enjoy with cherry tomatoes celery and carrots.
Skip the crackers and bread as starchy foods get stuck between teeth. This makes the whole healthy holiday food experiment a failure.
Enjoy milk and other sugar free dairy foods such as butter, soft and hard cheeses. Calcium is good for strong bones AND teeth.
High Protein Foods
Just like calcium, protein is essential. Loading up on high protein foods during the holidays will protect teeth and gums if you do decide to fudge a little and indulge in not so good treats.
Organ and red meats along with salmon and other types of fatty fish are excellent as you chew more.
When you chew your mouth produces saliva, which helps to rinse away food particles. Keep in mind that fatty fish is also full of phosphorus. Phosphorus is a mineral that protects the enamel on your teeth.
Being Nutty is Good for You
Just like fatty fish and dairy products, nuts are loaded with phosphorus. Especially helpful are cashews, Brazil nuts and almonds. Furthermore cashews stimulate salivary glands while almonds offer calcium.
If that isn’t enough to convince you of the value, walnuts contain iron, folic acid, fiber, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6, zinc, potassium, niacin, magnesium and thiamine.
Dental Checkups in Kalispell
Stay teeth healthy with the above foods and don’t forget to schedule regular dental checkups.
Regular checkups and cleanings are part of the equation and just as important. Call now and schedule your dental checkup in Kalispell today.
