- Best smile-friendly dining spots at Yonge and Eglinton
- Smile-friendly foods that prevent tooth decay support oral health
- Oral health tips for dining out
- Help with understanding diet and dental health
If you’ve been in the Yonge and Eglinton area of Toronto for as long as we have, you’ve seen a lot of changes to the neighbourhood. One of the most significant changes here is the number of restaurants that have sprouted up – and we couldn’t be happier with all the new options!
It’s great to take a respite from cooking or “brown-bagging” to enjoy a freshly prepared meal at a local restaurant, whether it is an early-morning breakfast, quick lunch, or late-night supper. However, one thing you should never take a respite from is your oral health, which can be challenging to maintain when dining in public.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can indulge in the local restaurant scene while protecting your teeth and gums from harm, giving you a lifetime of big, shiny smiles!
Best smile-friendly dining spots at Yonge and Eglinton
We’re very fortunate to live, work, and play in an area with a diverse selection of restaurants. This culinary diversity includes healthy eating options that help protect your oral health.
Here are some local smile-friendly dining options to try out:
- Fresh Kitchen + Juice Bar (101 Eglinton Ave. East) offers plant-based options and nutritious smoothies rich in nutrients for strong teeth and gums
- La Carnita (130 Eglinton Ave. East) features tacos and sides that include crunchy vegetables that stimulate saliva production
- Grazie Ristorante (2373 Yonge St.) with dishes featuring tooth-strengthening cheese and whole grains
- Boom at Eglinton (174 Eglinton Ave. West) serves up breakfast options with eggs, a great source of vitamin D for oral health
If you haven’t tried one of these spots yet, be sure to visit one the next time you’re planning a snack or meal out!
Smile-friendly foods that prevent tooth decay support oral health
There is some truth to the old saying, “You are what you eat.” However, although eating food with refined sugar might make you sweet, it can also wreak havoc on your oral health.
At home, you have the freedom to pick and choose what you consume. However, when dining out, you are bound by what’s on the restaurant’s menu. But that does not mean leaving tooth-healthy eating habits at the door; you can still make wise choices by focusing on selections containing or featuring:
Milk, cheese, and yogurt
A lifetime of eating can take its toll on your enamel, the hard outer surface protecting the soft tissue inside your teeth. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are all rich in calcium and protein, which help strengthen tooth enamel and protect it from cavity-causing bacteria and acids.
Crunchy vegetables
Raw, crunchy vegetables act as a natural toothbrush, and the chewing action massages your gums and stimulates saliva that helps remove food particles. Many vegetables, such as carrots, are also high in plaque-attacking keratin and enamel-boosting Vitamin A, making them the perfect complement to any meal.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain many minerals, including calcium and folic acids. These two acids promote healthy gums, helping you fight gum disease and ensure your teeth stay firmly in place.
Water
The best beverage with any meal – and in between them – is water. Water offers many benefits to oral health, including rinsing away food particles, fighting dry mouth, reducing bad breath, and stimulating saliva production.
Oral health tips for dining out
Of course, what you don’t consume is just as important as what you do, as is how you maintain oral health after eating. Not everyone carries a toothbrush and toothpaste everywhere they go, including restaurants, so here are some tips to help keep your teeth and gums clean until you can brush again.
Skip sugary drinks
Sugary sodas and fruit juices may taste great, but the cavity-causing sugar they leave behind is converted into acids that eat away at your tooth enamel. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, and possibly even tooth loss. Stick to water – one of your mouth’s best friends!
Rinse with water after eating
Water comes to the rescue once again! After eating, rinse your mouth with water to remove sugars and other food particles until you can brush again. This will also keep your mouth hydrated and help you fight bad breath.
Floss with portable Soft-Picks
These handy little floss sticks fit easily into a pocket or purse and provide gentle gum massage while helping remove food particles from between your teeth. All it takes is about 30 seconds in the restaurant restroom to ensure your mouth is clean and fresh after meals.
Be mindful of acidic foods
Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, apples, and tomatoes, all contain acids that can lead to enamel erosion. Be sure to limit your intake of these foods when dining out, and rinse your mouth with water afterward to help wash away leftover acids.
Chew sugar-free gum
Finish your meal with a stick of sugar-free chewing gum to help promote saliva flow, reduce cavity-causing bacteria, and freshen your breath.
Help with understanding diet and dental health
If you’re wondering about healthy eating at Yonge and Eglinton and how diet and dental are related, talk to our dental health team at Yonge Eglinton Dental. We are conveniently located right in the heart of the neighbourhood and are always interested in welcoming new patients into our offices.
As partners in your oral health care, we’ll discuss the importance of regular cleanings to remove plaque buildup, explain about our teeth whitening services that safely and effectively remove food and beverage stains from your teeth, and help you develop a tooth-friendly meal plan that will help preserve your oral health.
Give us a call today to start you on a new oral health journey that will keep you smiling proudly wherever you enjoy good food!
Yonge Eglinton Dental in Toronto: Professional dental care in Toronto
Talk to the dental professionals at Yonge Eglinton Dental about good oral health habits that protect your teeth and gums, even when you indulge in restaurant, takeout, or delivered food! Make an appointment for an office visit today by calling our office at 416-932-2222 or booking online. We look forward to seeing you!
Are you concerned about visiting the dentist? Read about how we protect the health and safety of our patients and staff so your family can seek proper dental care with peace of mind.
