While you are cooking up a storm this Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Paul R. Stanovick, Brant Stanovick, and our team in Mechanicsville, Virginia, hope you include some smile-friendly fare on your menu. Most people are familiar with heart-healthy food choices, but smile-friendly food choices are not as well-known, yet both are vital to good health. Following are some smile-friendly choices we hope you include in your family’s bounteous spread.
— Chewing cheddar cheese lowers acid levels in the mouth and stimulates saliva production, both of which promote good oral health. Cheese also has calcium and protein which aids tooth enamel.
— Crunchy foods like apples, raw carrots, and celery can help clean plaque off of your pearly whites. They also contain fiber, which stimulates both the gums and saliva production which help wash away plaque.
— If you want to build tooth enamel, in addition to cheese, eat plenty of leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and almonds, which contain calcium. And meat, eggs, and fish supply the body with phosphorous, which also helps tooth enamel.
— If you have eaten and can’t brush your teeth, chewing sugarless gum helps remove bacteria in the mouth, which prevents plaque from building up on your teeth.
— Drinking milk after consuming sugary foods can help neutralize the acid created by bacteria which forms into plaque.
— Polyphenols, which are compounds found in both black and green teas, slow down bacterial growth that can cause cavities and gum disease. Drinking these teas are also good for fighting bad breath.
As you can see, you can help your family enjoy the holidays while protecting those hard-earned smiles. Remember to brush and floss no matter how busy you are, and keep those twice a year dental cleanings and checkups. To schedule a visit for you or a family member, please call 804-781-1919 today. Dr. Paul R. Stanovick, Brant Stanovick and the rest of our team at Paul R. Stanovick, DDS wish you and yours a healthy Thanksgiving!