Meal Planning Tips for Better Oral Health
Plan Your Weekly Meals to Help Keep Teeth Healthy!
As much as a proper oral hygiene routine is important, so are the foods in which we put into our bodies, especially when it comes to maintaining good oral health. Choosing healthier foods for meals and snacks can help keep teeth and their enamel strong and also help promote good gum health. Planning meals ahead of time and including good food choices can make it much easier to stay on track, not just for your oral health but also for your overall health and wellbeing.
Create a Healthy Plate
When planning meals for the day or for the week, make sure to fill your plate with healthy food choices from some of the five major food groups: grains, protein (meats), milk and dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. Individuals and families can use the US Department of Agriculture’s ChooseMyPlate.gov to help determine which healthy foods should take up certain amounts of space on a dinner plate. This not only helps people make better choices for which healthy foods to consume for oral and overall health, but it is also the key to understanding portion sizes for some of our favorite foods.
Choose Healthy Drinks
Believe it or not, a major source of excess tooth decay can actually be found in what we are drinking. Sodas, sport drinks, and specialty coffee drinks can have a lot of hidden sugar that can wreak havoc on the teeth’s enamel. While these may be the easiest choices to make while on the go, a little planning can help ensure you choose healthier options like water or unsweetened beverages. Traveling with a reusable water cup or a bottle filled with fresh fruits, cold water, and ice can help stave off the craving for a fountain soda or a sugary coffee drink while running errands or commuting to work.
Snack Smarter
Do you or your children hit the vending machine when a mid-afternoon snack attack hits? Are you tempted by the treats that can often be found in office breakrooms? These foods are often filled with excess sugar and preservatives to help keep them fresher longer, which ultimately means a higher chance of developing tooth decay. To help avoid the need to indulge, keep healthy snack choices at your desk or in your bag for when you need that afternoon pick-me-up – carrots, nuts, fruit, and other healthy foods are a great choice, which not only tames your hunger but helps keep teeth and gums healthy.
If you or a loved one is in need of a trip to the dentist, you can always sign up for our New Hampshire Family Discount Dental Plan to save as much as 20 percent on all of your dental bills. For more information, please click here.
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