Five Dental Tips to Remember This Thanksgiving

The holiday season is here, which means many treats and comfort foods are on the way. While we all enjoy feasting during the holidays, it can all have a negative impact on your oral health. Our teeth are sensitive to the excessive amounts of sugary foods we indulge in during this festive season. If you want to get better at protecting your teeth from the extensive meals on Thanksgiving day, here are five dental tips to keep in mind.  

Avoid Sugary Sides

If you can, avoiding sugary side dishes and desserts will really help to protect your teeth on Thanksgiving day. Cranberry sauce is a common Thanksgiving staple, but it is loaded with sugar and also sticks to your teeth. If you can’t go without it, try finding a low-sugar, homemade recipe to lessen the damage it may cause. Other sticky desserts like pecan or pumpkin pie should also be avoided, or at least make sure to limit the amount you eat of those foods. 

Stick to Vitamin-Rich Foods 

If you can’t avoid the sugary foods completely, try to stick mainly to foods that are rich in vitamins. Ensuring that someone makes vegetable side dishes, such as green beans, brussel sprouts, or a salad, will help provide more vitamin-rich foods. Sweet potatoes are also a great side dish that are full of vitamins A, C, and B6, which are all beneficial to your teeth. Additionally, the protein in turkey has phosphorus, which strengthens your teeth when mixed with vitamin D and calcium. 

Brush and Floss 

There is no way to completely avoid foods that may damage your teeth on Thanksgiving, especially since you’ll still want to enjoy yourself! Another way you can protect your teeth is by brushing and flossing throughout the day. Half an hour after eating, floss your teeth to get rid of any food particles that may be stuck in your mouth. This will be beneficial to do at least three times throughout the day to ensure your teeth stay as clean as possible. 

Schedule a Pre-Holiday Appointment 

If possible, schedule an appointment with your dentist before Thanksgiving day. This will help you take care of any issues you may have so that you don’t make them worse with your Thanksgiving meal. During this appointment, you will also get the chance to ask your dentist more about what foods you should and shouldn’t eat on Thanksgiving day. 

Schedule a Post-Holiday Appointment 

Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. All of these celebrations are wonderful, but they also bring a long period of unhealthy eating. Scheduling a dentist appointment after New Year’s day will help catch any tooth decay or damage that may have occurred during the recent festivities. Getting a cleaning will get rid of some of the accumulated plaque and bacteria that couldn’t be eliminated with simply brushing and flossing. 

The professionals at Fennell, Yoxthimer, and Associates DDS are here to help you keep your teeth healthy and clean this holiday season. To schedule those holiday appointments, call us at 513-631-6600 or fill out an online form

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