Autumn treats come in the form of rich pies, hearty soups, and great heaps of Halloween candy. Much of the seasonal produce marks a healthy change in family diets after a summer filled with vacation foods, cold bear and barbeques. But, as your diet changes, do you do anything to update your oral health habits? Do you need to? What are the most tooth-healthy ways to go about your autumn diet?
3 fall food tips for oral health
- Halloween and trick-or-treat are awaited by millions of children every year. Even where parents are careful to control the intake of candy (by their children and by parents themselves), the in-vogue favoring of healthier alternatives only goes so far. The whole family will be faced with temptations at work and at school, and—let’s be honest—cravings are cravings.
Here are some easy tips to manage Halloween candy cravings and the distribution of sweets after trick-or-treating:
- For the candy you hand out, buy stuff you don’t personally like. This helps you hand it out AND throw the left-overs away.
- Set a date where you’ll throw all Trick-or-treat left-overs away. Especially with holidays coming at the end of the year, there will be plenty of other temptations… there’s no good argument to add insult to injury with your family’s oral health, so allow yourself to throw old candy away!
- Always drink a glass of milk or water with a round of candy-eating. This will stimulate saliva production to help pre-clean teeth before the next brushing, and will fill you up to avoid over-doing it on candy.
- Autumn means loads tooth-healthy produce to enjoy, especially with local farmers markets. “Reach for the roots” for produce that’s rich in fiber, like rutabagas, radishes and carrots. These all have a rich texture that helps to naturally brush your teeth, too.
Orchard apples are especially beneficial for your teeth. Not only does their texture offer a natural brushing effect, but they’re full of a plant pigment called quercetin that acts as an anti-inflammatory. For anyone with sensitive gums, this can help keep sensitivity at bay. Onions are another food rich in this nutrient, so don’t think twice about throwing more of those into your autumn soups.
- Think “dairy” in your appetizers and desserts. Calcium is essential to keep teeth strong and healthy, and can be worked into your diet in a whole slew of healthy options beyond the cream-based soup or heavy-cream desserts that people first think of.
For hors d’oeuvres, prepare a cheese platter the next time you have people over for dinner. Especially when you include whole-grain crackers to go with it, this appetizer is packed with anti-inflammatory grains alongside calcium-rich dairy. Greek yogurt-based dips with crunchy vegetables is another win-win.
Consider a small parfait bar for dessert one night a week. Start with Greek yogurt mixed with fruit preserves instead of pre-sweetened yogurts, and provide a variety of sliced apples and other fall fruits to mix in. Adding a few spoonsful of lightly toasted oatmeal, seeds and nuts will boost your immune system and add rich texture to your parfait, too.
We’re looking out for you this fall, and are pleased to bring you these fall food tips as part of the educational campaigns in September Fall For Smiles.
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