Discover Dental Tips For Thanksgiving from Dr. Steffany Mohan From Plaza Dental Group, Dentist Des Moines.

1. 7Dental Tips
For
Thanksgiving
Dr. Steffany North Mohan
Plaza Dental Group

2. Thanksgiving: Take Care Of Your
Oral Health
 The holidays don’t have to be hard on your teeth.
Before you bust out the bags of sugar and sticks of
butter this Thanksgiving, take time to learn about
ways you can protect your teeth at the dinner table.
Here are seven easy ways you can help prevent
costly dental issues.

3. Tip No: 1- Choose Tooth-
Strengthening Foods
 Choose foods rich in calcium such as milk, cheese,
and yogurt, which help fortify teeth.
 If you’re lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy,
high-calcium alternatives include tofu, sesame
seeds, collard greens, and spinach, all of which
contain lots of other health-promoting vitamins
and minerals.

4. Tip No: 2- Beware of Acidic and
Sticky Foods
 Foods with high acidity such as tomatoes, tomato-based
sauces, vinegar, red wine, and citrus fruits can
eat away at the enamel on your teeth. This makes it
easier for bacteria and sugar molecules to attack the
soft spots of your teeth.
 Sticky foods like caramel popcorn, pies, and peanut
butter can linger on your teeth and encourage bacterial
growth. These foods can be especially messy if you
wear dentures. Try to limit these foods as best you
can, and follow up meals with thorough rinsing and
brushing.

5. Tip No: 3- Limit Impulse
Snacking
 It’s easy to pick up a brownie here and there or
subconsciously munch away at chips and salsa.
However, foods rich in simple carbohydrates encourage
the bacteria in your mouth to produce sugar molecules
that can eat away at your teeth over time.
 we all know holiday snacking is an unwritten rule of
family gatherings, but try to keep it somewhat under
control. While it’s ideal that you brush your teeth
after every snack, rinsing your mouth out with
water or chewing sugarless gum can also help keep
tooth issues at bay.

6. Tip No: 4- Use Sugar
Alternatives
 Tradition dictates that desserts, pies and sauces be
sweet as a puppy and kitten playing together. But
that doesn’t mean they have to be loaded with
sugar.
 Nutritious fruits and vegetables like apples,
berries and sweet potatoes pack plenty of
natural sweetness that’s much less harmful
than refined sugar. Honey makes a wonderful
sugar substitute and without the excess calories
or tooth-harming effects.

7. Tip No: 5- Balance Your Meals As
Best You Can
 Start by countering the sugar with plenty of
protein. Proteins in traditional holiday foods like
turkey and ham help buff out sticky, staining
substances like sugar and sauces.
 High-protein foods also often require more
chewing, stimulating saliva production – your
mouth’s natural teeth cleaning mechanism. Next,
include fibrous vegetables such as broccoli,
carrots, and salad greens, which help clean your
teeth even more.

8. Tip No: 6- Have Supplies At
the Ready
 If you’re spending the holidays away from home,
pack a toothbrush for quick sprucing up between
meals. If that’s too much trouble, consider picking
up a travel-size bottle of mouthwash.
 You should also pack floss to have at the ready in
case stubborn pieces of meat get lodged between
your teeth. On Thanksgiving Day, try to brush
three times instead of twice.

9. Tip No: 7- Schedule Regular
Dental Checkups
 Regular checkups help ensure your teeth are
healthy enough to handle Christmas dinner and
whatever they chew on the rest of the year. It’s
important to clean off plaque regularly and spot
any issues like cavities before they turn into
painful problems.
 You can visit Plaza Dental Group for consultation
or just give us a call at 515.612.7148. Schedule an
appointment via our official app today.