With Thanksgiving just a few day away, you’re probably fantasizing about fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy. If you’re a sweet-tooth kind of person, you may be dreaming of delicious apple pie. Though our dentist in Pinellas Park FL encourages you to enjoy these foods, we do also urge our patients to prioritize their dental health. Today on the blog, our dentist Pinellas Park FL shares important dental tips for Thanksgiving. 

Brush Your Teeth Thoroughly 

What would Thanksgiving be without turkey? Turkey is a rich source of protein and is savory. It does, however, have drawbacks, just like any other meal. Because it might become lodged in your teeth, brush thoroughly after your Thanksgiving meal. Aside from that, we give turkey a thumbs up.

Avoid Sticky Foods

Don’t be afraid to put this classic dish on your plate because it’s loaded with veggies like green beans, onions, and mushrooms. However, one of our dental advice is to floss properly after eating sticky foods. Green bean casserole is no exception! It’s important to schedule a tooth cleaning in Pinellas Park after the holidays pass. 

Don’t Forget the Veggies

Thanksgiving is the one occasion where you can eat everything you want… but don’t overdo it. You should still include nutritious greens or other colorful veggies in your Thanksgiving meal. Dr. Brianne Wade, the best dentist in Pinellas Park FL, encourages leafy green vegetables. As follows, this is because they include calcium, which helps to maintain strong teeth, but red and orange vegetables have vitamin C, which helps to maintain healthy gums.

Look Out For Acidic Foods

You may already be aware that acidic meals are bad for your enamel. One of our dental suggestions is to minimize your consumption as much as possible. Our neighbors over at 4th St Family Dentistry, St. Pete dentist, say that you can make it less harmful by eating acidic foods and drinking water at the same time.

Tooth Friendly Options

Importantly to note, wine and cranberry sauce are sticky and can stain your teeth. Wine and cranberry juice weaken your enamel and make it more susceptible to deterioration, so be cautious this Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that you should wait at least thirty minutes before cleaning your teeth.

Limit Your Sugar – Your Teeth Will Thank You

The beautiful thing about sweet treats over Thanksgiving is that they aren’t all that unhealthy for you. That is, if you eat foods high in vitamins A and C, such as pumpkin and sweet potato pie. In fact, vitamin A protects your gums and helps to harden your enamel.

The issue arises when massive amounts of sugar are involved. Candied yams with marshmallows or sweet pies with whipped cream aren’t good for your pearly whites, so consume in moderation and drink plenty of water!

Eat Vitamins For Healthy Teeth

We know—those mashed potatoes are amazing of this world, but be careful. While potatoes are an important source of potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, its high starch content converts to sugar, making your mouth a breeding ground for cavities. Covering your mashed potatoes with gravy makes them even more unhealthy, but don’t skip this side dish totally.

Consume in moderation and be prepared to clean and floss your teeth after your Thanksgiving feast. The same criteria apply to divine macaroni and cheese. While cheese and milk include calcium, which helps to build your teeth, macaroni pasta, like potatoes, has a lot of carbohydrate.

Contact our Pinellas Park Dentist Today

Check out the rest of our blog for additional dental advice from our Pinellas Park dentist. As follows, contact us to make an appointment! Happy Thanksgiving!