Must Love Potatoes . . .

By Christine

Why do dentist love potatoes?? Because they are so darn "filling"(bahaha ...)

Apologies for the corny joke ... but it felt appropriate because this Friday, Saturday and Sunday Alliston is celebrating  the 45th annual Potato Festival, a community wide  weekend of potato-loving festivities.

In honour of this "spudtacular" weekend, I set out to make a few parallels between dentistry and potatoes.

1. From time to time, patients will share their home remedies for treating tooth pain. The Potato Remedy claims to be an alternative "cure" to a tooth abscess. The Potato Remedy claims that a slice of raw, plain, white potato placed against an abscess and left there will be effective in draining the infection and providing relief of pain and swelling. I don't know about that .... But I do know that while the potato may provide relief from symptoms, using a potato to treat an abscess will not address the cause of the abscess. It is still important to get that checked out by your dentist!

2. As dental professionals, Sweet potatoes are our favourite kind of potatoes because they pack a strong dose of vitamin A, which will do a lot of good things for your teeth and gums. Vitamin A maintains the mucous membranes and soft tissue of the gums. The vitamin is also vital in maintaining the protein keratin, an agent that promotes formation of tooth enamel.

3. Potato Floss: as defined by the urban dictionary is "flossing your teeth with mashed potatoes, by squishing them through closed teeth"  ...  Eww!  Perhaps "flossing" with a starchy food like potatoes isn't such a great idea. Once trapped between your teeth, starch, which becomes sugar can feed the bacteria in plaque, eventually leading to cavities!

4. After you have had your wisdom teeth removed, it is important to eat soft, easy to chew foods to minimize the risk of complications and provide nourishment. They should be abundant in vitamins, minerals, energy and protein to assist healing. Mashed potatoes, whether sweet or white are one of the easiest foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal. They are rich in calories and nutrients, which are both important for recovery.
   

Alliston, we hope to see you and your "best spuds" at the 45th annual Alliston Potato festival this weekend!! 

It's going to be "taterlly" awesome!!