As Christmas rolls around and you become busy with all of your parties, it’s important to remember the best and worst Christmas foods for your smile. If you remember these things and you eat the beneficial foods as well as avoid the harmful foods, you will have a strong and healthy smile this Christmas. So, to help you identify these foods, we are happy to list them right here on this blog!
The Best Foods
· Gingerbread: Gingerbread is the best option when it comes to eating Christmas bread. Most bread, like banana bread and zucchini bread, are stocked full of sugar, but not gingerbread, which is why it is the healthiest option! Even though gingerbread does not have the significant amount of sugar, it is no less delicious.
· Turkey: Turkey meat is lean, healthy, and it is full of nutrients that promote strong and healthy teeth, like phosphorus, which is similar to calcium. This is the best holiday meat you can eat.
· Nuts: Nuts are also beneficial, especially almonds, walnuts, and cashews. These nuts have a multitude of healthy nutrients and vitamins that work together to keep your teeth strong. Some of those nutrients and vitamins include magnesium, iron, and calcium.
The Worst Foods
· Sweets: It’s no surprise that sweets are harmful to your smile, especially hard and sticky sweets. We’re not asking you to sacrifice your Christmas treats this year, but we are, however, asking you to avoid the hard, sticky treats, drink plenty of water, and clean your smile as much as you can.
· Citrus Foods: Citrus foods tend to erode the tooth enamel, so we ask that you eat oranges, tangerines, and other citrus foods in moderation. This is indeed a healthier option compared to Christmas treats, but we recommend that you are as careful as possible when consuming the food.
· Wine: Wine, both red and white, tend to dry out the mouth, stain your teeth, and make your teeth feel sticky. They also contain erosive acids that allow stains from other foods and drinks to penetrate into your smile more deeply. So, if you’re interested in having a beautiful, white smile this Christmas, avoid the wine.
Our team at Summit Village Dental care about you and your smile, which is why we recommend eating the healthy Christmas foods and avoiding the harmful foods this year. Doing so will help you have the healthiest and strongest smile possible. If you have any questions or if you would like to know more, please call 816-287-5650 now and talk to a member of our caring dental team. We also recommend scheduling an appointment with our friendly dentist, Dr. Jaclyn Turnbow, if you have any concerns.