By now we have all heard about “superfoods” that are great for our bodies and overall health, but what about foods that are good for teeth? The American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry recently released a pamphlet about eating for dental health. This pamphlet includes a list of teeth-related superfoods and recipes using them. For instance, did you know that cheese is anticariogenic? Cheese contains lactic acid which helps prevent tooth decay. Here are some other tooth-power edibles:

Broccoli: forms an acid-resistant film on teeth that can help prevent enamel erosion.

Celery: activates saliva production which assists in cleansing food particles from the teeth and dilutes sugars or acids in the mouth. Chewing celery also massages the gums.

Kiwi: pack more Vitamin C than any other fruit. A lack of Vitamin C can break down the collagen network in your gums, making them tender and more susceptible to bacteria and gum disease.

Lemon: a natural “whitener” and assists with pH balance in the body.

Stevia: a natural sweetener that does not have an “acid effect” on your teeth like sugar.

Wasabi: a Japanese version of horseradish, which contains compounds called isothiocyanates to arrest bacteria growth.

Here’s a recipe using some of the ingredients from above!

Broccoli with Wasabi Sour Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
1 bunch broccoli, about 3 stalks,
organic preferred

Directions:
Wash and trim broccoli, peeling the fibrous
material from stems
Slice the stems diagonally into bite-size pieces,
and the flowerets into medium size bites.
Bring several inches of water to boil in a
vegetable steamer, and steam broccoli until
tender crisp, approximately 8 minutes.
Place steamed broccoli into a serving bowl,
serve with Wasabi Sour Cream sauce.

Serving Size:
Makes approximately 6, ½ cup servings

Wasabi Sour Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
¼ cup sour cream
1 – 2 teaspoons wasabi powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
6 drops stevia
2 Tablespoons water

Directions:
In a small bowl, blend the wasabi powder with
water. Add salt, stevia and sour cream, mixing
well to blend flavors. If desired, add more
wasabi for extra heat.

Serve immediately, refrigerate for several days.

Serving Size:
6 servings, approximately 1 Tablespoon each

March Madness is over! A big thanks to everyone who participated. We are happy to announce the following patients as our winners:

1st place: Sonicare Toothbrush and custom whitening goes to Rebecca S.

2nd place: 4 Brewers tickets go to Kristina A.

3rd place: Bartolotta gift card goes to Gretchen S.

4th place: Jose’s Blue Sombrero gift cards go to Robert K.

Do you like to make your own cakes, or do you go the store and buy them premade? Well, if you’re a cake buying connoisseur and haven’t given making and decorating your own a shot, try this next time you need a cake!

First, bake your favorite cake recipe (a boxed mix will do just fine). Divide a batch of frosting in two, and spread half of the frosting on the baked cake. Divide the other half of frosting into 3 separate bowls and tint different colors using food coloring.

Grab 3 new or very clean paintbrushes, a willing child participant, and your tinted frosting and start painting the cake!

Let your imagination do the work!

What a beautiful, fun, and creative way to personalize a cake for that special person. Be sure to take lots of pictures, because your artwork will get eaten!