A lot of planning goes into preparing mouth-watering holiday meals for your friends and loved ones. You want everyone’s taste buds to be satisfied; however, the holidays can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to dental health. Many seasonal favorites can increase the risk of cavities, like sugar cookies, candy canes, and other sugary appetizers. You can help keep everyone’s smile healthy with 4 dentist-approved holiday Hors d’oeuvres.
1. Vegetable Trays
Skip sweet treats and offer fresh vegetables instead. Veggies are loaded with essential vitamins and nutrients to support healthy mouths and bodies.
Crisp vegetables also act as tiny scrub brushes to keep teeth clean between brushing and flossing. Chewing vegetables also increases saliva production to remove food residue and plaque.
2. Meat & Cheese Trays
Instead of setting out bowls of chips and other snacks, offer a meat and cheese tray. Cheese is loaded with calcium to promote strong teeth and bones. It also contains casein, a protein that helps protect the surfaces of teeth. Include healthy meats, like grilled chicken.
3. Hummus
Hummus is a healthy dipping sauce for vegetables, crackers, and other snacks. Chickpeas are rich in protein, but they don’t contain any cholesterol or saturated fats. They also contain folic acid, which helps fight oral infections and inflammation.
4. Baked Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks have a bad reputation for being unhealthy, which is from frying them. However, they can be a healthy snack if they are baked instead of fried. Freeze low-fat string cheese and coat them in breadcrumbs before popping them into the oven.
Promoting Healthy Smiles for the Holidays
Besides choosing tooth-friendly foods, you can help support the dental health of your party-goers by setting out oral hygiene products, like flossers, travel-size toothbrushes, and toothpaste. It will make it easy for your family and friends to brush and floss when they aren’t at home to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
Offer plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated and their mouths moist. A dry mouth increases the risk of cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. You can set out sugar-free gum to encourage saliva production to combat oral bacteria growth. You can promote clean mouths and minty fresh breath.
Don’t let your holiday gathering lead to poor dental health. A few healthy appetizer alternatives will please everyone’s taste buds while supporting their oral health and general wellness.
About Rhiannon B. Presley
Dr. Presley graduated from Baylor University and the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry. She has regularly continued her education to provide the most up-to-date dental services to support the mouth and body connection. She is a member of many professional organizations, including the Texas Dental Association. Request an appointment through her website or call (817) 242-5564.