The professionals at C. R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry know a well-balanced diet of vegetables, proteins, and fruit will not only shrink your waistline but also improve your pearly whites. For more than 20 years, the dentist has been providing patients throughout Lorain, OH, with expert dental care and recipe suggestions to improve oral health.

Here Lorain’s best dentist shares two simple recipes packed with nutrient-rich ingredients that keep teeth in top condition.

Black Bean Rice Burgers

The next time you have a craving for a juicy burger, bypass the meat containers in your grocery store and head to the produce section instead. Black beans are a hearty, healthier alternative to beef and boast vitamin B3 and phosphorus, two nutrients that keep gums and tooth enamel strong. To prepare the vegetarian burgers, you’ll need:

1 Can Black Beans
1 Onion
1 Egg
½ Cup Brown Rice
½ Green Pepper
2 Teaspoons Salt
1 Tablespoon Pepper
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1 Tablespoon Cumin
1 Teaspoon Hot Sauce
3 Garlic Cloves

To start, cook the brown rice with a teaspoon of salt. While the rice is cooking, open the can of black beans and drain any excess liquid. Pour the beans into a large mixing bowl and use a fork to mash. The onion, green pepper, and garlic are too hard to mince with a fork, so throw these ingredients into a food processor for easy chopping. Once the vegetables are completely chopped, toss the mixture into the bowl with the black beans. In another bowl, mix together the egg, a teaspoon of salt, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, and one teaspoon of pepper. Next, pour the contents of both bowls together and add the brown rice. When the mixture is thick, form into patties to bake or fry.

Almond Cookies Made With Xylitol

Starting at a young age, people learn that eating too many sugary sweets can lead to cavities and other serious dental damage. Although you should limit trips to the pastry shop, that doesn’t mean you need to cut out sweets completely. When baking at home, replace sugar with Xylitol. The natural sweetener, often found in fruit, prevents tooth decay and keeps cavity-causing bacteria from forming. To make almond cookies using the Xylitol, you’ll need:

1 Cup Whole Almonds
4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
2 Teaspoons Almond Extract
2 Teaspoons Cream Of Tartar
2 Cups Coconut Oil
2 Eggs
1½ Cups Xylitol
1 Teaspoon Maple Extract
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

To prepare, pour the cream, coconut oil, Xylitol, eggs, and extracts into a bowl. After mixing the ingredients, add the baking soda, flour, and almonds. Once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, place several tablespoon-sized dollops of the mixture onto a baking sheet. Set the oven to 350°F and cook for 10 to 12 minutes.

Although cooking with teeth-friendly foods will improve oral health, you should still visit your local dentist to ensure teeth remain in great shape. In Lorain, C. R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry specializes in a wide range of procedures, from a standard teeth cleaning to a more invasive root canal. To schedule a dentist appointment, call (440) 960-5200. You can also visit the dentist online to learn more about general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry procedures. For more tips on how to care for teeth, visit the practice’s Facebook page.