If there is one constant throughout the holiday season, it is food. And if there is one part of the holiday season that is more about food than any other, it is Thanksgiving. When we refer to a holiday as “Turkey Day,” you know it is all about food (and family and gratitude, of course).
While the holiday season brings lots of sugar, sweets, and other foods which can be harmful to your teeth, many traditional Thanksgiving foods actually offer significant oral health benefits. If you aren’t planning on doing so already, pick up these good-for-your-teeth foods for your Thanksgiving table:
- You’ll have some disappointed guests if you don’t have pumpkin pie at your dinner. Your guests will also be missing out on a wide range of health benefits contained in pumpkin, specifically its high level of vitamin A. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin A is crucial for many important functions in the body including vision, helping in cell differentiation, boosting the immune system, fighting infection and helping with reproduction and growth of the body. This reproduction and growth includes the formation and strengthening of tooth enamel. Pumpkin pies also contain vitamin c and calcium, which are important for gum health and developing teeth.
- It’s not Thanksgiving without too much turkey followed by the inevitable food coma. But while your sleeping it off, know that the phosphorous contained in turkey is healthy for developing teeth and can help rebuild and re-mineralize teeth and jawbones. Iron and zinc promote healthy mucosal tissues which help protect your gums from dangerous bacteria, while turkey’s supply of vitamin B can help prevent periodontal disease and heal damaged gum tissue.
- All those sides of veggies on the table can do wonders for your oral health. Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamins A and C, which help keep your gums healthy. Red and orange veggies are also high in vitamin C, while leafy green vegetables are good sources of calcium which help strengthen teeth. So, dig into the yams, asparagus, carrots, and green bean casserole.
Assure A Smile: Your Partner in Wellness
One of the key aspects of the holistic dentistry we practice at Assure A Smile is the recognition that our lifestyle choices – including the foods we consume – have a profound impact not only on our oral health but our overall wellness.
At Assure A Smile in Miami, we partner with our patients to help them develop healthy, natural, and effective oral hygiene habits as part of an overall wellness strategy and holistic healthcare approach. To learn more about the importance of holistic dentistry and healthy habits during the holiday season and throughout the year, please contact us today at 305-274-0047.
