Your diet plays a critical role in your health, and dental health is no exception. The holiday season is a time for feasting but unfortunately, many of the sugary treats and candies we all love to eat at the holidays are not the best for your teeth. At the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre, in Ottawa, our dental professionals can provide you with all the treatments and services you need for a healthy smile and also inform you about which holiday treats are actually good for your mouth.

Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes are a good source of Vitamin A, which helps protect tooth enamel and prevent cavities. The beta carotene in sweet potatoes can help prevent gum disease by reducing inflammation. Choose a casserole topped with healthy nuts instead of marshmallows. Foods that are sticky and high in sugar, like marshmallows, provide fuel for the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Cheese Plate
Instead of ending your holiday meal with a decadent, sugary dessert, try a cheese plate instead. Cheese is high in calcium and protein that help strengthen your teeth. Studies suggest that eating cheese can also help prevent cavities by lowering the pH balance in your mouth. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and other aged cheeses help your mouth produce more saliva to rinse food away from your teeth.

Salmon
Whether you're eating a holiday meal at a restaurant or cooking a holiday feast at home, salmon is one of the best choices for your entrée. Why? Calcium is essential for strong, healthy teeth and bones but your body needs Vitamin D in order to absorb calcium. Salmon is high in both calcium and Vitamin D, making it an excellent choice for good dental health.

Nuts
The Nutcracker is the holiday season's most famous ballet, but did you know that nuts can also benefit your oral health? Nuts that are high in omega-3s, such as macadamias and pistachios, can lessen the inflammation that leads to gum disease. But just remember to always use proper nut cracking tools and to never use your teeth to open nuts.

Broccoli Casserole
Broccoli is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is inversely associated with gum disease. It's also a great source of other healthy nutrients like Vitamin B1, magnesium, iron, calcium, niacin, and selenium. Just one-half cup of cooked broccoli provides 51mg of Vitamin C. Combining broccoli and cheese in a casserole gives you two foods that can help your teeth and gums.

Vegetable Platter
If you're hosting a holiday party this year, add plenty of crunchy vegetables, like carrots, celery, and peppers, to your vegetable tray. When you eat crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery, they act as natural toothbrush, cleaning your teeth and massaging your gums. Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, which strengthens tooth enamel. Both red and green bell peppers have more gum disease fighting Vitamin C than oranges. Your friends and family will be grateful that you've provided an option that is good for their waistlines as well as their oral health.

Dark Chocolate
The holidays are a time for indulgence and dark chocolate is a more nutritious way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Dark chocolate contains polyphenols that can reduce the bacteria that cause bad breath and convert sugar into tooth-damaging acid. It is also a good source of gum disease-fighting antioxidants. Make sure that you choose a chocolate that is at least 70% cacao because milk chocolate has extra sugar that is bad for your teeth.

Sugar Free Chewing Gum
When you're at a holiday party and it's not possible to brush with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, chewing sugar free gum can actually help your teeth and gums. Both the act of chewing and the artificial sweeteners in sugar free gum stimulate the production of saliva, which washes away the acids that damage tooth enamel. Xylitol, a common sweetener in sugar free gum, actually reduces the growth of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that causes cavities, by preventing the bacteria from sticking to your teeth. It is best to chew sugar free gum immediately after eating, although you still need to properly brush and floss.

Incorporate these dishes and treats to have a healthy and happy holiday season. Be sure visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa to keep your smile beautiful and your oral hygiene healthy. Contact us today to book an appointment or for more information on treatments and services.