What if you could safeguard your dental health, one bite at a time?
Right now, tooth decay is still the most prevalent type of chronic disease that both children and adults struggle with. The things we eat make a major difference in how much dental care we need each year.
Therefore, it’s important to consume foods that taste great and are friendly to your teeth. Ready to help protect those teeth, one meal at a time? Keep reading to discover the tooth-friendly recipes that foodies are sure to love!
1. Loaded Sweet Potato Soup
Sweet potato soup is always tasty, especially on a cold fall day. And for those looking to avoid needing dental care, it’s possible to make a loaded sweet potato soup that is very friendly to your teeth.
To make this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 peeled and cubed winter squash
- 3 peeled and cubed medium sweet potatoes
- 2 cups of coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 quart of chicken stock
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric
- ½ teaspoon of thyme
- ¼ cup of either butter or coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 pound of the meat of your choice
- 2 medium onions
Now that you have the ingredients, begin by peeling and chopping both the squash and sweet potatoes. Boil two or more quarts of water and add the squash and potatoes to it. After that, cook until it is tender and then drain everything and let it cool down for a time.
Next, put half of your squash and potatoes into a food processor along with spices, coconut milk, and stock. Blend everything together and put it back into the pot. Then stir in the remaining squash and potatoes.
Afterward, cook the meat, slice the onions, and then cook the onions using butter or coconut oil in your skillet. After that, heat on low until it is warm enough to be served!
2. Cucumber Bites
Want a recipe that’s a little less involved but still won’t send you to your friendly neighborhood St. Louis dentist? In that case, you should make some cucumber bites!
To make this tasty treat, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Cucumbers
- Cream cheese
- Either grape or cherry tomatoes
- Ranch dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Garlic salt
- Dill
- Black pepper
- Italian seasoning
Begin by washing your cucumbers before slicing and peeling them. You need half-inch slices, and you can get rid of the ends; you won’t be using them.
Next, use a measuring spoon to carve out a little space inside each cucumber. After that, you need to mix your ranch, mayonnaise, and cream cheese until it is nice and smooth.
Speaking of mixing, the next step involves mixing your Italian seasoning, dill, and garlic salt into your creamy concoction. This should then go into a piping bag, and you can then put about one tablespoon of filling into each of your carved-out cucumbers.
After that, slice those tomatoes in half and place a half piece on top of each cucumber. Just add a little black pepper and these treats are now ready to serve!
3. Brie and Strawberry Bites
Cucumber bites are tasty, but it still takes many steps to make them. If you want a tooth-friendly treat that’s even easier to make, you should go with brie and strawberry bites.
To whip this up, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Small wheel of brie cheese
- Washed strawberries
All you have to do is cut your brie into small cubes and then heat in your oven for about five minutes. Next, pop the strawberries on top, put a skewer through them, and serve!
Now, you may have seen variations of this recipe that involve adding dressing like balsamic vinegar. While that is tasty, the acid in the vinegar is not friendly for your teeth.
4. Teriyaki Salmon
Looking for something that’s good for body and mind as well as your teeth? In that case, it’s time to cook some teriyaki salmon!
To make this fishy feast, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of raw honey
- 1/3 cup of fermented tamari sauce (gluten-free)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of arrowroot flour
- 2 tablespoons of coconut vinegar
- 2 seeded bell peppers, sliced very tin
- 2 tablespoons of divided coconut oil
- 5 chopped green onions
- 16 ounces of wild salmon. This will need to be cut into 4 even pieces.
Begin by taking the ingredients for the sauce (honey, tamari, arrowroot flour, and coconut vinegar) and whisking all of them into a small saucepan. Heat on low and stir periodically for about five minutes until it is good and thick.
Next, get a large sauté pan and heat it up (medium heat only) for a couple of minutes. Coat it with a tablespoon of coconut oil and add bell peppers, cooking them for a little over five minutes or until the edges are spotted brown. After that, remove the peppers and set them to the side.
Afterward, coat the pan with another tablespoon of coconut oil and put the salmon, skin down, onto the skillet until the bottom is a nice, golden brown (this should happen in three minutes or so). Flip the salmon pieces over and repeat the process.
Finally, put salmon pieces onto plates and drizzle the yummy sauce over them. Serve them with bell peppers and green onions.
5. Crunchy Fruit Salad
Not all fruits are tooth-friendly due to the acidity. Fortunately, it’s possible to whip up a crunchy fruit salad using fruits that are great for your teeth and your tastebuds.
To start, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 3 chopped pears
- 3 chopped apples
- ¼ cup of honey
- ¼ cup of fresh mint leaves
- ⅔ cup of chopped walnuts, toasted
All you have to do is place walnuts and fruits into a bowl and then add your mint leaves and honey. Once you toss everything, this refreshing treat is ready to serve!
Get the Best Dental Care Services Today!
Now you know some of our favorite tooth-friendly recipes that can keep you out of the dentist’s chair. But when you do need dental care, do you know who you can turn to?
Here at Webster Family Dental, we specialize in providing the care, comfort, and costs that other St. Louis dentists can’t match. To discover what we can do for you, just contact us today!