Are you ready for the holidays?
Here at Fair Oaks Quality Dental we are in the festive mood.
Of course along with the holidays come lots of celebration foods – some good for your teeth and some that can promote cavities. While you may not be able to avoid some of the sweets, let’s look at some foods that can be fun, especially for the kids.
Foods that can promote dental health: Foods Rich in Calcium and Phosphorous
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and contains the highest percentage of minerals. It is made up mostly of minerals, primarily hydroxyapatite, which is a crystalline calcium phosphate. Calcium helps your teeth by strengthening tooth enamel. Calcium needs phosphorous to maximize bone strengthening.
Here are some suggestions for calcium and phosphorous:
Calcium: Green leafy vegetables, yogurt, cheese (hard, aged), seafood, milk (low-fat), tofu, almonds.
Phosphorous: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, fish, red meat, eggs, tofu
Here’s a great treat using yogurt:
Foods rich in Vitamin D
Vitamin D is vital for your overall health. It helps your body absorb calcium which is vital for strong teeth.
Foods high in Vitamin D:
fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil, spinach, kale, okra, collards, soybeans and white beans.
Eggnog anyone?
Fibrous fruits and vegetables
Foods with fiber stimulate saliva flow, which is a natural defense against cavities. Saliva helps wash away food particles. Also about 20 minutes after you eat something, saliva begins to neutralize the acids attacking your teeth. Here are some examples of high fiber fruits and vegetables:
Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, raspberries, strawberries, mangos, persimmons.
Vegetables: Carrots, celery, broccoli, collard greens and swiss chard
Fun and Yummy Treats for Kids
To wrap it up, you can see that there are lots of great foods you can make for the holidays. If you don’t have much time to make treats, you can always serve up cheese plates and fruit and nut platters. And when you can’t avoid the sugar treats, especially one’s that stick to the teeth, make sure you and your loved ones floss and brush after to protect the teeth from getting cavities.
Again, from all of us at Fair Oaks Quality Dental, we wish you the very best of holidays!
Sincerely,
Dr. Nahid Afshari, DDS
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