Happy Healthy Holidays!

Thanksgiving is known for being a food-centric holiday with huge spreads of sweet, savory, and indulgent delicacies that can do a number on your teeth. The celebration of food, family, and friends doesn’t have to leave you feeling unhealthy. If you’ve ever wanted to try recipes that are good for you—and your teeth—without sacrificing deliciousness, the search is over.

 

Here are a few dishes that will delight without the fright:

First thing’s first: the appetizer. 

When stomachs start to rumble but the turkey isn’t ready, it’s the perfect time to serve a beautiful spread of cheese, raw veggies, and an assortment of nuts. Let your creativity run wild with artfully-placed platters of crudités, cheese cubes, mixed nuts, and vegetables for guests to snack on. Not only will it tide them over until dinner is served, it’ll also provide them with an extra dose of teeth-strengthening calcium and surface-protecting casein.

 

The nuts and veggies on your cheese board add a saliva-producing crunch, good for washing bacteria away, in addition to calcium and minerals that strengthen and re-mineralize teeth. If you add celery to your presentation, you will also be providing guests with a floss-like experience through the fibrous strands.

 

Moving to the main course.

Tradition will tell you that the main course needs to be turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce—but who says traditions can’t be changed? For a healthy addition to the main course, try vegetables (we like green beans) sautéed in sesame oil.

 

In the same way that nuts and veggies produce saliva that rinses your mouth, sesame oil has mouthwash-like properties. The oil is so powerful that it can reduce the effects of plaque, and even reverse harm caused by gingivitis.

 

Feeling fruity? Let’s move on to dessert. 

You’ve set the bar high with your beautiful cheese board, so now it’s time to bring those skills to the finale of the meal. For dessert, try fresh pear slices with honey yogurt dip.

 

This seasonal dessert should feature thinly sliced pear drizzled with a combination of one cup of plain Greek yogurt, two tablespoons of honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon for sprinkling. Greek yogurt contains calcium and phosphates that will strengthen and re-mineralize your teeth, and honey is a natural antiseptic with a host of additional benefits.

 

If you’re consuming acidic foods like cranberries or wine throughout the meal, try following them up with a bite of these pears.

 

Speaking of hydration…

It’s important. Not only for your overall health, but also for your oral health and hygiene. If you like to drink your tap water, you will be happy to know that it contains fluoride, which protects your teeth from damage and decay. If you want a warm beverage after the meal, reach for green or black tea, both of which kill bacteria and thus fight cavities.

 

Voila!

These health-conscious recipes are good for the heart, the waistline, your teeth, and your entire body. These healthy options will keep your mouth sparkling, and we look forward to hearing all about your 2019 feast when we see you in the office.

 

 

Everyone Wants Their Two Front Teeth

(Photo Source: AZ Quotes)

It’s a familiar sound at the holidays: people young and old singing about their wishes for peace on Earth, happiness for all, presents under the tree, and their two front teeth. Written in just 30 minutes by Donald Yetter Gardner in the 1940s, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” has turned into a December singalong favorite. But do you know the origin of the toothy tune?

In 1944, Gardner and his wife Doris were teaching elementary school music in Smithfield, New York. Donald took over for Doris when she had a baby, and found himself in front of 22 second graders preparing for their holiday concert. Of those 22 students, 16 of them were sporting toothless grins. It was clear to Donald that those gaps could lead to something more: the perfect song for the little ones to sing at their school wide show. The novelty Christmas song was a huge hit that night, but Donald didn’t stop there.

A few years later, when Don had left the school and was working at a textbook company, he offered the song to his new employer for free but came back without a bite. After the first failed attempt at selling what Don knew could be successful, a music publisher in New York also passed on the chance to buy it claiming that “it’ll never be a hit.” Not wanting to go down without a fight, Don claimed there was another offer on the table which changed that publisher’s mind and they got to work.

The song was soon recorded and released by Spike Jones and His City Slickers, with vocals by George Rock, and reached the top of the charts in October of 1948. Two months later, a headline in the December 13 Record Bulletin read: “EXTRA! EXTRA! Jones’ ‘Two Front Teeth’ Rocks U.S. with Loads of Laughter and Gales of Sales!!”

Since it’s catapult to the top, the song has been recorded, performed, and parodied by countless artists including Nat King Cole, George Strait, The Three Stooges, and Count von Count from Sesame Street. It can be assumed that the majority of the song’s appeal is how relatable it is to kids and adults alike. Kids may be losing their front teeth while adults feel a burst of nostalgia thinking about when they lost theirs.

Whether you’re the former, the latter, or somewhere in between, our office is looking forward to keeping those two front teeth healthy in the new year.

Happy Holidays, Happy Teeth!

Create a tooth-friendly menu the whole table will love.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, travel, traditions, and food, Lots and lots of food. The holidays are a perfect time to pay a little less attention to the scale in favor of the delicious snacks, drinks, and meals that the latter months of the year are known for. While you may not be thinking about your waistline, you can still build a holiday menu that features options recommended for healthy teeth.

Picture this: it’s Thanksgiving Day! Your stomach is growling and you can’t wait to dig in. Appetizers like cheese, veggies, and nuts are a great way to tide yourself and your guests over while the table is set and the main courses spend their last few minutes in the oven.

The calcium and protein in dairy products like cheese strengthen and protect tooth enamel, helping to fend off cavities. Nuts also have the power to strengthen and remineralize teeth thanks to the calcium and minerals they contain. Specific foods aside, did you know that you’re helping your teeth stay healthy simply by chewing? The extra saliva your mouth produces while chewing crunchy foods helps wash away bacteria and ultimately prevents decay.

When the timer sounds, it’s time for the main event. By now, everyone will be eagerly awaiting the freshly-carved turkey which is packed with protein to keep those teeth strong for the rest of the meal and long after the table is cleared. Cranberry sauce is a tart partner to many Thanksgiving turkeys, and we recommend eating them together so your teeth don’t have to deal with the impact of acidic sugar on your teeth.

Are yams your jam? Yams are bursting with Vitamins A and C which bring tons of benefits to both your teeth and your gums. They can be prepared in many ways, so don’t be afraid to get creative with your vitamin intake!

Does your plate need some greens? Side dishes like green bean casserole and broccoli casserole are high in calcium, folic acid, and beta-carotene which both help to promote strong enamel and healthy gums.

Ready for more cheese? The calcium in a side dish like macaroni and cheese will pack even more benefit into your meal. The stickiness of cheese can be dangerous and pieces of pasta may get stuck in your teeth, but that’s nothing a piece of floss and a good brush can’t fix.

Pass the potatoes! Depending on how they’re prepared (covered in cheese or gravy), potato dishes can be high in calories and sugar. However, they’re also a great source of Vitamin C, B6, and Potassium, which are important in any diet. Just be mindful of what you’re adding to these Idaho wonders and dig in.

Pumpkin, please! When it’s time for dessert, there’s nothing more appropriate than a pumpkin pie. And good news! The Vitamin A in pumpkin strengthens your enamel and works to keep your gums healthy. The saliva your mouth will create when the sweetness hits will also help wash away any lingering signs from the meal.

Wash it all down! No need to get fancy with sparkling or bottled water—tap water is a natural source of fluoride which can also reverse any damage caused by acid.

 

Prepare this mouthwatering menu to serve up savory holiday dishes that your guests’ teeth will enjoy just as much as their stomachs!