Eat More Turkey For Healthy Teeth On Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Thursday will surely have us all going back for seconds…and sometimes more. Besides from the expanding effect of our collective waistlines, the foods we eat on Thanksgiving can have a significant impact on the health of our teeth and gums too.

Foods like fresh cranberry sauce, fibrous vegetables like broccoli or carrots, and of course turkey, are all popular Thanksgiving Day foods that also happen to be beneficial for dental health – and overall health.

Who’d a thunk it…gobbling down gigantic portions of turkey can actually help build strong teeth and healthy gums!?!

With all of this overeating and extended sitting, unending noshing and prolonged pigging out…at least for some of us…we can take comfort in the fact that most of us are probably eating some really good foods for the health of our teeth and gums.

How we treat our teeth, and the foods we eat have a direct impact on not only our overall health, but the health of our teeth and gums too.

Did you know turkey is rich in phosphorus?

This kind of goes without saying on Thanksgiving, but we should all make sure we get enough protein to keep our teeth healthy, and reduce the chances of developing tooth decay.

Fiber is good for us too, and our teeth – so don’t be shy with them sweet potatoes!

Eating foods high in fiber help us scrub the surfaces of our teeth as we eat; this limits the build-up of plaque and helps us defend against a cavity creep takeover while our defenses are low during that mid-afternoon or evening slumber between helpings.

Can we all really be expected to shun the sweets and starches in the name of healthy eating habits on a day when we’re giving thanks?

We want to be thankful for everything we have, from family down to funnel cake!

Thanks to Dr. Arman Roksar in Levittown Long Island, NY. for compiling this Top 12 list of tooth-healthy fibrous fruits & veggies we can add to the Thanksgiving Day menu:

1. Artichokes
2. Peas
3. Broccoli
4. Kale
5. Raw carrots
6. Avocados
7. Asparagus
8. Apples
9. Bananas
10. Blueberries
11. Raspberries
12. Pears

And just in case you’re really bored, here is a link to the Top 25 Best Thanksgiving Day Pies, Ever!

We have a lot to be thankful for, please take the time this week to do some auditing over what is means to be thankful, and how we can show more of that gratitude every day.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving 2013!