This Thanksgiving, your food choices – many of which are not especially healthy, could make for unwanted calories and potential dental issues.
Choose Healthified Appetizers
As you prepare the meal for your guests, consider putting out a plate of crudités, cheese cubes and mixed nuts. A mixed platter of various cheeses is good for teeth, because it contains strength-building calcium. Casein, a protein found in milk products, fortifies the surfaces of teeth, helping to prevent cavities. Nuts contain calcium and minerals that strengthen, but whole nuts can also be a nuisance for your restorative crowns and bridges. On the positive side, chewing hard, crunchy nuts also produces extra saliva, which fights germs and prevents tooth decay. Raw vegetables also produce a lot of saliva, washing away bacteria. Try this!
Fruitful Desserts…
Impress your guests by serving a simple, yet sophisticated seasonal dessert of fresh pear slices with honey yogurt dip. Thinly slice your favorite variety of pear. Arrange on a platter. Serve alongside a dip made of plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey and a sprinkle of freshly ground cinnamon. Fresh pears have been shown to neutralize acid on the surface of teeth. Calcium and phosphates in yogurt strengthen and remineralize teeth and honey is a natural antiseptic.
Peach Roses are petitie, beautiful and delicious. All you’ll need is puff pastry, fresh peaches and peach preserves (use your own), along with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Baking a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie will make Grandma proud. It’s the time of year when rhubarb is harvested and strawberries are ready for a seasonal break. The two combined, will make a tasty treat. Rhubarb stalks tend to be bitter, so choosing the right amount of sugar, not too much, and certainly not too little…
After Dinner Beverage… Tap Water and Tea?
Tap water contains fluoride, which reverses damage to enamel caused by acids. Green and black teas kill bacteria, thus fighting cavities. Make the tea with tap water and you reap a double benefit. As a bonus, these tooth-healthy drinks are also good for your heart and a bloated waistline. With healthy Thanksgiving tips, it is possible to enjoy a delicious holiday dinner without too many unnecessary calories or the threat of jeopardizing your sparkling smile!
