When the weather warms up, you know that it is time to start planning a picnic. It is easy to include pies, chips, and barbequed offerings at a picnic, but you also want to offer some dishes that are good for your oral health. On top of brushing and flossing, you can take control of your oral health by incorporating mouth healthy foods into your everyday diet. You may be surprised that it is easy and cheap to create dishes for your picnic that are good for your teeth. Here are four great ideas for mouth healthy picnic dishes.

Citrus fruit salad

Citrus fruits are loaded with vitamin C, which is incredibly good for your gums. A study has revealed that periodontitis is linked to low levels of vitamin C in plasma. Vitamin C bolsters your immune system and helps to keep the negative symptoms of gum disease at bay. Luckily, you can create a powerhouse fruit salad with delicious citrus fruits. Cut up some oranges, pomelos, tangerines, grapefruits, and tangelos to create a cool, refreshing offering that everyone at the picnic will enjoy sharing.

Yogurt dipping sauce

A yogurt dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment for many picnic favorites, including chicken. Yogurt allows you to infuse many different flavors into a dip. You can mix plain, low fat yogurt with herbs and spices such as dill, clove, and mint to produce many complex flavor profiles to complement anything from vegetables to grilled proteins. Best of all, yogurt is great for your teeth. Dairy products have phosphorus and calcium, two minerals that help to make your teeth stronger when they are worn down.

Raisins in salad

Raisins are a great snack on a warm day, and they can be incorporated into many snacks and dishes from trail mix to salads. They add a bright pop of flavor to a hearty, savory chicken salad with romaine lettuce, sweet onions, and peppers. Raisins are good for your teeth because they are high in antioxidants called phytochemicals. Recent research suggests that raisins help to eliminate bacteria that contributes to gum disease and cavities.

Carrot sticks in a crudite platter

Crunchy vegetables such as carrot sticks and celery are very healthy for your teeth. These crunchy vegetables require a lot of chewing. Vigorous chewing stimulates saliva production. Increased saliva helps to wash away acid particles that break down enamel, and it also helps to wash away food residues that can bind with plaque-creating bacteria.

For more information about oral health, contact a professional like those at  Kappenman Family Dental.