With the holiday season rapidly approaching, many questions could swirl about how pilgrims and American Indians went about their respective oral care routines. In today’s society, most people worry about filling their serving table with a smorgasbord of delicious treats. A roasted or fried turkey generally graces the center of the table, surrounded by starches, vegetables, and sweets. In the days of pilgrims, Thanksgiving dental care probably looked a little bit different. Your Mansfield dentists, Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris, discuss tooth care for pilgrims.
Mansfield Mayflower Mania
One distinct advantage for the pilgrims involves their society’s lack of food processing and manufacturing. Without added preservatives, sugars, and other sweeteners, pilgrims likely received many added oral care benefits from the foods they ate. Fruits and vegetables can aid in stimulating saliva flow which removes excess food particles. Additionally, these fruits and vegetables provided numerous added health benefits. In this day and age, toothpastes contain mild abrasives and added breath fresheners. Researchers around the world devote their lives to designing better, more efficient toothbrushes each year.
After the pilgrims chowed down on their Thanksgiving feast, they likely used salt and hog’s hair for their toothpaste and toothbrush. The American Indians probably used twigs to scrub between teeth and applied herbs or roots directly to teeth. Tarragon could provide a nice toothbrushing experience and help season the roasted holiday turkey!
Dental Care
The days of the Mayflower are long gone. Luckily, our ancestors paved the way for our current dental care. We recommend following the American Dental Association’s guidelines for dental care in all three phases; brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Currently, the ADA recommends that people brush their teeth twice each day. Brushing should last for a minimum of two minutes and include thorough brushing of each tooth. Also, remember to floss at least once every day. Lastly, make sure to rinse your mouth with an ADA-approved antimicrobial mouthrinse. Don’t forget to maintain six-month dental checkups with your Mansfield dentist office to aid in promoting optimal oral health.
Schedule Your Thanksgiving Dental Visit in Mansfield
Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris can provide comprehensive dental care as well as shed more light on how far our society’s dental care evolved since the Mayflower. Contact our 76063 dentist office by calling (817) 259-1357 to schedule an appointment today. We proudly serve patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian, and surrounding communities.
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