Thanksgiving "Do"s and "Don't"s For Your Smile

Happy Thanksgiving! Family, festivities and food are just a few of the reasons to love Thanksgiving. While the food may be in abundance at the Turkey Day table, the smiles are too. But protect your smiles at the big feast by choosing the right foods for your teeth. Here are some dental "Do"s and "Don’t"s to keep in mind:

Thanksgiving Drinks

Do have: Water. It’s the best option for your teeth and gums, plus it can help you keep from overeating. Almost as good is tea. Try green, black or herbal tea — all of which have bacteria-killing properties and/or antioxidants, and tea leaves are a natural source of fluoride.

Don’t have: Sugary sodas and mouth-drying alcohol are the worst for your teeth on Thanksgiving. Sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouth, which in turn release acids that cause cavities. Significant alcohol intake results in xerostomia, or a decrease of the saliva in your mouth, which means you’re not able to wash away as much food. Dry mouth can also lead to bad breath.

Thanksgiving Appetizers

Do have: Cheese plates, naked nuts, deli meats, and vegetables platters are great options. Cheese and nuts both have have protein and calcium to help strengthen your teeth, and chewing on raw vegetables helps produce saliva to wash away bacteria.

Don’t have: Candied nuts. They are probably the worst choice far as Thanksgiving appetizers go. The stickiness transfers from nuts to teeth and helps food particles stick to crevices where they can cause cavities. The calorie count also adds up fast, so you’ll get also take a hit on the scale.

Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Do have: Turkey is your go-to, dental-health-friendly option on the Thanksgiving table. Not only is it unarguably the main attraction of the Thanksgiving table, turkey is loaded with protein, making it a favorite for both your body and smile. Protein has phosphorus in it, and when phosphorus mixes with calcium and vitamin D, it creates strong bones and teeth. So even though eating a Thanksgiving feast can make you sleepy, you can rest assured that turkey is a healthy option for a great smile.

Don’t have: Stuffing, rolls and sugary candied yams are probably the worst offenders for your teeth because they’re loaded with starch — prime food for cavity-causing bacteria. Limit your portions of these foods, and make sure to wash them down with some water.

Thanksgiving Desserts

Do have: Pumpkin pie is actually a great choice, thanks to pumpkin’s vitamin C and calcium. It’s still got a fair amount of sugar, of course, so be sure to wash it down with another glass of water.

Don’t have: As delicious as it is, pecan pie is basically a dental perfect storm. Crammed full of sugar and sticky, chewy pecans, it’s almost perfectly designed to cause cavities!

What If You Just Can't Help It

OK. Nobody’s perfect. I’ve been known to partake in some of the worst offenders on this list, but luckily, the solution is simple: about 30 minutes after you’ve eaten, step away from the festivities for two minutes and brush your teeth. If you want extra credit — and especially if you’ve eaten any of the stickiest desserts — partake in an extra flossing session too. You’ll undo any potential for damage and come out with fresh breath!

Dental Care Year-Round From Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD

Our expert dental team can help you take care of your teeth year-round at either of our two locations in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain. We’re thankful for our patients of all ages, and we’d love to have you join our family. For more information  schedule an appointment or call 860-561-2121.


Keep smiling,  

Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121