{"id":40430,"date":"2025-11-17T08:06:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tamus.edu\/benefits\/?p=40430"},"modified":"2025-11-17T08:07:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:07:00","slug":"tips-for-a-smile-friendly-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tamus.edu\/benefits\/tips-for-a-smile-friendly-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"tips for a smile friendly holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you grateful for your healthy smile? This Thanksgiving, keep your teeth and gums healthy with smart food choices.

Skip the sugar
<\/strong>From pumpkin pie or a marshmallow-topped yam casserole, Thanksgiving dinner can be a delight for your sweet tooth. But all that sugar also serves up a feast for cavity-causing bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re cooking, consider swapping sugar for substitutes like xylitol or erythritol. These sweeteners don\u2019t cause decay. If you\u2019re eating, limit your dessert portion and follow it with a glass of water.

Cut down on starches
<\/strong>Savory foods aren\u2019t as well-known for causing decay, but the starch in sides like cornbread and stuffing can feed the same acid-producing bacteria as sugar. Mix up your plate to balance the starch with protein and fiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay away from food that stains
<\/strong>Brightly colored foods and drinks look great on the dinner table, but they can leave your enamel looking dull. Watch out for red wine, cranberry sauce, coffee and even white wine. Some pies, like cherry and blueberry, also pose a risk. Skip the wine and stain-causing foods \u2014 or book a cleaning with your dentist, afterward.

Avoid acid wear
<\/strong>Acid and enamel don\u2019t mix. The acid in wine and cranberry juice can soften your enamel<\/a>, leaving it more vulnerable to decay. Avoid acidic foods and drinks whenever possible. If you can\u2019t skip them, lessen their impact with bites of other dishes and sips of water. Wait at least half an hour before brushing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fill up on vegetables
<\/strong>Fill your plate with an assortment of colorful veggies, full of smile-friendly vitamins and minerals. Red and orange veggies are usually high in vitamin C (good for gums), while leafy green vegetables are good sources of calcium (for strong teeth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Texas A&M University System currently offers a choice between two dental plans.
For information on these two plans, visit the\u00a0Delta Dental TAMUS microsite<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you grateful for your healthy smile? This Thanksgiving, keep your teeth and gums healthy with smart food choices. Skip the sugarFrom pumpkin pie or a marshmallow-topped yam casserole, Thanksgiving dinner can be a delight for your sweet tooth. But all that sugar also serves up a feast for cavity-causing bacteria. If you\u2019re cooking, consider…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1971,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-benefits-news","category-dental"],"yoast_head":"\ntips for a smile friendly holiday - Benefits<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tamus.edu\/benefits\/tips-for-a-smile-friendly-holiday\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"tips for a smile friendly holiday - Benefits\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you grateful for your healthy smile? 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