{"id":675,"date":"2022-11-22T17:19:12","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T17:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/?p=675"},"modified":"2022-12-01T17:21:52","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T17:21:52","slug":"5-tips-for-making-thanksgiving-dinner-safer-for-your-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/5-tips-for-making-thanksgiving-dinner-safer-for-your-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Making Thanksgiving Dinner Safer for Your Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\u201cHappy<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Thanksgiving is a day to spend time with your loved ones while enjoying plenty of delicious food. Unfortunately, it can also be a nightmare for your teeth and gums if you\u2019re not careful. To make sure that your smile has a healthy Thanksgiving, you need to actively work to protect your oral health during the feast. Your dentist in Lincoln has 5 tips for doing just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Beware of Sugar and Starch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret that sugary and starchy foods can easily lead to dental problems if you aren\u2019t careful. When the bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and starch, they secrete an acid that attacks your enamel, which can eventually result in cavities. Try to put a limit on how many sugary or starchy foods you indulge in during Thanksgiving; common examples include sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pie, and stuffing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Be Extra Careful Around Sticky Sweets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many of the desserts associated with Thanksgiving, such as caramel and pecan pie, are quite sticky. Consequently, they stay on your teeth longer than other foods, attracting cavity-causing bacteria and leading to plaque buildup. And if you have a restoration such as a dental crown, chewing on sticky foods could dislodge it. In short, it\u2019s recommended that you avoid sticky sweets as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Clean Your Teeth at Regular Intervals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you tend to eat throughout the day during Thanksgiving? If so, you\u2019ll continually be exposing your teeth to food debris that can encourage plaque buildup and decay. However, you can mitigate the damage by flossing afterward every time you eat. Drinking water frequently can also help rinse away leftover food before it can cause any problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Exercise Caution Around Hard, Sharp Foods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the main meal is being prepared, it\u2019s not uncommon for families to snack on chips and nuts. These foods break into hard, sharp pieces that can easily get stuck in difficult-to-reach spots in your mouth. They can also potentially damage dentures, braces, and other oral appliances. You therefore need to be very careful when trying to chew anything hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Skip the Wine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people consider it traditional to have some wine with a big meal, but before you fill your glass, consider the consequences for your oral health. Wine is highly acidic and can weaken the enamel protecting your teeth. It can also dry up your saliva, which raises your risk for cavities and gum disease. Choosing a different beverage could make all the difference for your smile; water is always a good option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the above tips, and you\u2019ll be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with your smile intact. Remember, if you notice any problems with your teeth or gums, you can always call your dentist to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Louis Olberding has been treating patients<\/a> at Olberding Dental in Lincoln since 2003. He is part of the visiting faculty for Spear Education, which is the largest dental education company in the world; he is one of only two Nebraska dentists to hold this honor. If you\u2019d like to schedule a post-Thanksgiving visit with Dr. Olberding, visit his website<\/a> or call (402) 488-2325.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanksgiving is a day to spend time with your loved ones while enjoying plenty of delicious food. Unfortunately, it can also be a nightmare for your teeth and gums if you\u2019re not careful. To make sure that your smile has a healthy Thanksgiving, you need to actively work to protect your oral health during the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=675"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":679,"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675\/revisions\/679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olberdingdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}