{"id":385,"date":"2026-10-26T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/26\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your-smile\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T07:00:00","slug":"thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/26\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Harm Your Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your--300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"Thanksgiving feast on a table\" class=\"wp-image-384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your--300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your--768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your-.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Thanksgiving around the corner, you might be getting prepared to cook your favorite annual foods. You may be excited to indulge in some items more than others, but be wary of a few. Certain choices can harm your smile if you aren\u2019t careful. Here\u2019s what you should know and how you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/new-patients.html\">protect your oral health<\/a> this holiday.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Side Dishes Should You Limit This Thanksgiving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re hosting Thanksgiving or visiting friends and family, there will likely be many dishes that you can add onto your plate. However, these can affect your teeth and gums the more you have them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Red Wine<\/li>\n<li>Stuffing<\/li>\n<li>Pecan Pie<\/li>\n<li>Sweet Potato Casserole<\/li>\n<li>Cranberry Sauce<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These foods have a high amount of sugar and starches. They feed the bacteria in your mouth and increase your risk of cavities and other dental problems. Not only that, but many are also highly acidic and dark-colored. So, you may also end up with tooth stains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Options Are Healthier for Your Smile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While some of the dishes above might be your favorite, you can limit them to lower your risk of issues, but you can also swap them out for better alternatives, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Turkey, ham, and other protein-packed foods won\u2019t stick to teeth and have little sugar.<\/li>\n<li>Green bean casserole doesn\u2019t have much sugar or starch.<\/li>\n<li>Pumpkin pie is a better dessert option compared to other pies because it has vitamin A and less sugar to promote gum health.<\/li>\n<li>Baked sweet potatoes aren\u2019t covered in marshmallows and brown sugar.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Protect Your Smile This Holiday?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that you don\u2019t have to completely avoid your favorite sides, but you should protect your oral health if you do decide to indulge in them. A great thing you can do is to drink plenty of water. This will rinse harmful bacteria, wash away lingering particles, and neutralize acids on your teeth. Don\u2019t graze and eat your sides with your meals, or add fresh fruits and vegetables to your plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the night, don\u2019t forget to brush and floss. That way, you remove any plaque that might\u2019ve accumulated and keep your smile in the best shape it deserves to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to protect your teeth and gums? Our team at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/about.html\">Exceptional Dentistry &#038; Sedation Center<\/a> is dedicated to helping patients in Gainesville avoid dental problems with effective preventive care. Led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/meet-the-doctors.html\">compassionate dentists<\/a>, we can spot early warning signs and give you the prompt treatment you deserve. If you have any questions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exceptionaldentistry.com\/contact.html\">schedule an appointment<\/a> or call our office at <a href=\"tel:+13523326725\" class=\"pho\">352-332-6725<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Thanksgiving around the corner, you might be getting prepared to cook your favorite annual foods. You may be excited to indulge in some items more than others, but be wary of a few. Certain choices can harm your smile if you aren\u2019t careful. Here\u2019s what you should know and how you can protect your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Protect Your Oral Health from These Thanksgiving Side Dishes | Exceptional Dentistry &amp; Sedation Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thanksgiving is a day to indulge in a grand feast, but some side dishes can harm your smile if you aren\u2019t careful. Here\u2019s what to know.\" \/>\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.exceptionaldentistry.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/26\/thanksgiving-side-dishes-that-harm-your-smile\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protect Your Oral Health from These Thanksgiving Side Dishes | Exceptional Dentistry &amp; Sedation Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Thanksgiving is a day to indulge in a grand feast, but some side dishes can harm your smile if you aren\u2019t careful. 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