New year, new you, same happy and healthy smile!
January is National Soup Month, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate it with you. As the winter months drag on, what better way to keep warm than with a hot bowl of soup?
Soup is a great way to stay warm, and it’s also a great way to keep your smile healthy and your teeth strong!
Soft foods are great for your teeth after surgery!
Lots of people schedule their wisdom tooth surgery or other tooth surgeries for Christmas break. It’s the perfect season to take time off of work or school to heal from your surgery.
Soft foods are great recovery foods!
Soft foods:
- Ensure proper healing
- Reduce irritation
- Soft so you don’t have to chew if your jaw is sore
While ice cream is a great food to eat after surgery because it’s soft, cold, and a great comfort food, you should also eat soft food with nutrients to speed up the healing process.
Here are some great soft foods to incorporate into your diet:
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Smoothies
Soup is also a great soft food!
What are the benefits of soup?
It’s easy to eat.
Soup is a great winter food, and it’s easy to eat! This makes it great for recovery after you’ve had surgery on your teeth.
This is also a great food for after you’ve gotten braces or have just had them tightened.
It keeps you hydrated.
Hydration is important year round. While we may not sweat as much in the winter, it is just as important.
Broth-based soups such as vegetable soup contain about 92% of water.
If you play any sports or are active, you know how vital hydration is. Athletes will often drink sports drinks which are high in electrolytes. Electrolytes are essential for hydration and contain vital minerals such as calcium, sodium, and magnesium.
Electrolytes are the minerals that direct water to areas in your body that need it most.
So, why is this important?
Some soups are also high in sodium which is great when you are training and regularly exercising.
It is rich in nutrients.
Along with sodium, certain soups also contain a lot of vegetables.
A lot of minerals can fight against diseases like gingivitis, which is a gum disease where plaque build up causes inflammation in the gums.
While it’s still important to floss and brush your teeth daily, vegetables are a great way to keep your gums healthy.
Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and folic acids help keep the connective tissues in your gums strong and fight against tooth erosion.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that produces collagen which helps form body tissue. It also repairs any damaged gums and strengthens them against oral bacteria.
Vitamin E, calcium, and folic acids can protect your mouth against gingivitis. Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E is an antioxidant and repairs damaged gums. Folic acid strengthens the cells in your mouth. Calcium keeps your bones and teeth strong!
Vegetables that are high in Vitamin C include:
- Peppers
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli
Vegetables that are high in Vitamin E include:
- Spinach
- Collards
Vegetables that are high in folate (folic acids) include:
- Brussel sprouts
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Asparagus
Our Team’s Favorite Soup
Here at Cobblestone Park Family Dental, our team loves soup! Here is Dr. Sugg’s top soup recommendation that is delicious and will benefit your smile!
TORTELLINI SOUP
1 lb Italian sausage, browned and drained
1 carton vegetable broth
1 can Rotel
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 block cream cheese, cut into cubes
Fresh spinach
Tortellini (3 cheese)
Mix all ingredients (except tortellini) into a crockpot on low for 4 hours.
For the last 30 minutes, add 1 bag of your choice of tortellini and cook on high.
After that, you have your delicious and nutritious tortellini soup that will keep you warm this winter and benefit your smile!
How Cobblestone Park Family Dental Can Help You!
Here at Cobblestone Park Family Dental, we’re dedicated to you and your oral health. We care about you and your smile.
During the holiday season, many people experience gum and tooth pain due to high intake of sugar and poor oral hygiene. If you experience any toothaches or pain in your mouth this season, be sure to schedule an appointment with our dedicated team.
At Cobblestone Park Family Dental, our dental professionals are ready to help. Schedule an appointment at our Oklahoma City office by calling (405) 603-8520.