Thanksgiving is a great holiday to test your culinary skills and spend some quality time with your family in the kitchen. But, a lot of Thanksgiving dishes are loaded with unnecessary sugar, and terrible for oral health. This Thanksgiving, add some mouth-healthy dishes to your family’s table.
Sautéed Green Beans
Green beans are a very popular vegetable around Thanksgiving, and they are usually made into dishes that aren’t very mouth-healthy. But, on their own, green beans are incredible dental super foods that help oral health in many ways. Green beans are full of fiber, which cleans teeth as it is eaten. They are also full of vitamin C, which is a strong antioxidant that helps heal gums, and fight gum inflammation. To get the most of these benefits, we’re going to keep our dish simple and really focus on making fantastic sautéed green beans.
Ingredients:
1lb bag of French Green Beans, ends cut and washed
½ tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
Heat up a non-stick pan on medium heat. Add the olive oil and let it heat up for 30 seconds. Then, add the garlic and toss in the hot oil until it is lightly browned. Add the green beans and toss to evenly coat in garlic and oil. Finally, add the salt and pepper. Cook the green beans until they are bright green and pliable enough to eat, about 6 minutes. You can add salt and pepper to taste
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving staple, but it is packed with sugar and can be full of sticky marshmallows that are awful for teeth. This year, try roasting your sweet potatoes instead for a more mouth-healthy meal!
Sweet potatoes are great for teeth, and packed with healthy vitamins and minerals that promote good oral health. They contain vitamin C, which promotes gum help and works to prevent gingivitis. They also have vitamin D, which helps to decrease bone and tooth loss. Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin B, which promotes saliva production. All of these benefits make sweet potatoes a great mouth-healthy addition to your Thanksgiving meal.
Ingredients:
4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Lay the sweet potatoes out in a single layer on a roasting tray. Drizzle the oil, honey, cinnamon, salt and pepper over the potatoes. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes in oven or until tender. Take sweet potatoes out of the oven and transfer them to a serving platter. Drizzle with more extra-virgin olive oil.
Eat Well This Thanksgiving!
When planning a mouth-healthy Thanksgiving, try to incorporate as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible, and try to stay away from heavy, creamy sauces and sugary desserts. If you want help planning a mouth-healthy diet for your family, visit our office to discuss some healthier dietary options that can improve your family’s oral health.
