Football weekends in September are made for gathering with friends, firing up the grill, and putting out plenty of food before the game begins. From dips and wings to desserts and drinks, however, the typical spread can expose teeth to sugar, starches, and acids for hours at a time. You do not need to skip your favorite traditions to make a difference. A few changes to your tailgate food can create a delicious menu while helping you be a little kinder to your smile.
Why Can Tailgating Be Tough on Your Teeth?
The length of a tailgate can work against your oral health. When you eat foods containing sugar or carbohydrates, bacteria in your mouth produce acids that can temporarily weaken tooth enamel. Saliva helps neutralize those acids, but your mouth needs time between eating occasions to recover.
That is why grazing from the pregame show through the fourth quarter can be more challenging than enjoying the same foods during one meal. Try filling your plate at designated times instead of constantly grabbing another handful of something.
Water can also help clear loose food particles and prevent dry mouth, so keep a bottle nearby throughout the festivities.
Try New Ways to Serve Familiar Favorites
A tooth-conscious game day menu does not need to look like health food. Use familiar flavors to create satisfying alternatives to some of the stickier or starchier choices on the table.
Try adding these ideas to your next spread:
- Make cheeseburger lettuce cups. Fill crisp lettuce leaves with seasoned ground beef, cheese, tomato, and pickles for a bite-sized twist on burgers.
- Serve buffalo chicken celery boats. Add shredded chicken and a creamy buffalo mixture to celery for plenty of familiar game day flavor.
- Build antipasto skewers. Combine cheese, vegetables, and slices of turkey for an appetizer that is easy to grab between plays.
- Roast crunchy edamame. Season it with your favorite spices for a protein-rich alternative to chips or crackers.
- Prepare berry parfait cups. Layer plain Greek yogurt with fresh berries and chopped nuts for a simple dessert.
Adding a few different choices can make the entire menu more interesting while allowing you to keep traditional favorites in the lineup.
Which Snacks Tend to Stick Around?
Chewy candies and caramel are obvious culprits because they can cling to teeth. But chips, crackers, and pretzels deserve attention, too. Their refined starches break down into sugars, and pieces can become packed into grooves and spaces between teeth.
For dessert, consider fresh fruit, yogurt, or a small serving of chocolate instead of treats designed to be chewy or sticky. You can also help your teeth by enjoying sweets with the main meal rather than making dessert last for several quarters.
What Is the Best Game Day Drink for Your Smile?
Water is hard to beat. Soda, lemonade, sweet tea, energy drinks, and sports drinks may contain sugar, acid, or both. Sipping them slowly throughout the game keeps teeth exposed much longer than drinking one with a meal.
Stock the cooler with plenty of water and add fresh cucumber, mint, or berries if you want extra flavor. Unsweetened iced tea is another easy option.
If you choose an acidic drink, follow it with plain water. Avoid immediately brushing afterward, since acids can temporarily soften enamel.
Give Your Teeth a Postgame Cleanup
Once the crowd clears out, brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste and floss to remove plaque and food debris. If you are still at the stadium or on the road, sugar-free gum can encourage saliva flow until you can complete your normal routine.
Good food is one of the best parts of football season, and there is no reason to sit out the fun. Rethink a few items on your tailgate food menu this September, enjoy treats without grazing on them all afternoon, and schedule an appointment at Mayfair Family Dentistry to help your smile stay healthy long after the final score. Call us at 414-519-6724 for an appointment in Wauwatosa, WI. You can also request an appointment online.
