In a week many of us will be preparing for our Thanksgiving celebration. While the day will look very different than other years, that doesn’t mean we won’t still indulge in our favorite meal options. However, many of these favorites are high in cavity-causing ingredients, such as sugar and starch. In today’s blog, your Garland, TX, dentist will look at how you can avoid cavities.
How Our Favorites Cause Cavities
Many of our favorite Thanksgiving meals contain high amounts of sugar and starch, including pies, cranberry sauce, yams, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and more. While delicious, these items also leave particles stuck between your teeth. When bacteria consume these particles, they coat the teeth in plaque and tartar, which weakens and erodes the outer enamel. The risk of tooth decay is then increased. In addition, the buildup could irritate and inflame gum tissues, boosting the chances of gingivitis and gum disease. Fortunately, there are ways to help protect your smile from the risk of cavities and still enjoy a healthy smile!
Tips for Protecting Your Smile
First, try to add healthy items to your menu, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Not only are they delicious and filled with essential vitamins, but rough ones, like carrots, broccoli, and apples, could help scrub away food particles and plaque as you consume them. We also suggest cutting back on how many sugary and starchy items you consume. Finally, be sure you drink water too, as this helps wash away particles of food.
Make sure that you make time to clean your smile too! Even on holidays, you need to brush your teeth when you wake up and once more before going to bed for about two minutes. Use a fluoride toothpaste too, and make time to floss as well, as this removes what a toothbrush cannot reach. If you can, make time for a dental cleaning at our office before the year ends, so you start 2021 with a brighter, stronger smile and use your dental insurance benefits before they expire!
Stay Safe!
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in states across the country, which is why you should take precautions when planning your Thanksgiving celebrations. Some are planning smaller gatherings with immediate family, visiting older family members and those with a compromised immune system via Skype and Zoom. Be sure to continue to wear masks when in public, and wash your hands frequently!
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AVOIDING CAVITIES?
Our team wants you to maintain a healthy, strong smile for years to come. To learn more about preventing tooth decay, then schedule a consultation by calling Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-530-0552. For our patients who don’t speak English, our office is fluent in both Spanish and Vietnamese.
