Dental-Friendly Valentine’s Day Treats

A good way to show you care is to give your loved ones treats that are delicious but healthy for your teeth at the same time. Remember everything is good in moderation so keep that in mind this Valentine’s Day season. Make sure to avoid sticky/sugary/chewy candies. Those types of candies can stick to your teeth longer than others which can erode your enamel. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a sweet treat on Valentine’s Day! Check out the list below for some dental-friendly Valentine’s Day treats.

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Many people love chocolate-covered strawberries but switching to dark chocolate is a healthier option for your teeth and your heart. Dark chocolate can help control the bad bacteria in your mouth that causes tooth decay. It is also a source of antioxidants which may help lower some forms of “bad” cholesterol, especially when combined with almonds and cocoa. Plus they are a great Valentine’s Day gift!

Fruit Salad – Valentine’s Day Edition

A fruit salad that includes fruits like pears, apples, strawberries, plums, cherries, and grapes can help keep your teeth strong especially when coupled with regular dental checkups. Apples and pears have a high water content and are an excellent way to cut sugar intake from other sweet fruits.

Other high-water-content fruits include grapes, cherries, and plums. Since they are water-filled fruits they also stimulate the production of saliva which helps clear out any existing bacteria and sugar. Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C which keeps your gums strong enough to fight off infections. They are also natural teeth whiteners.

Cut the strawberries into heart shapes to make your fruit salad feel extra festive. You can also include red grapes and cherries for the extra pops of red!

Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board

A well-rounded charcuterie board can include dark chocolate, cheese and crackers, and fruit that help maintain healthy teeth and gum. Cheese is healthy for your teeth since it is high in calcium, casein, and phosphorus. This helps fortify your tooth enamel, maintain bone density, and balance your mouth’s pH to preserve tooth enamel.

Cutting the cheese into heart-shaped pieces can make it a fun Valentine’s Day board. You can also include strawberries that are heart-shaped to add more color. Sprinkle in some dark chocolate almonds and grapes and you have yourself a thoughtful Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. You’ll get bonus points if you find a charcuterie board in the shape of a heart.

Valentine’s Day Cookies with Milk

Beautifully decorated cookies are another yummy Valentine’s Day snack! Some fun Valentine’s Day cookie recipes are Chocolate Chunk and Cherry Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies, Strawberries and Cream Cookies, and Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. You can also choose to go the simple route with Chocolate Chip Cookies or Valentine’s Day M&M Cookies. Make sure the M&M’s are pink, red, and white!

When you’re finished eating your delicious cookies make sure to wash them down with a glass of milk. The milk will protect your teeth enamel from bacteria that causes cavities with calcium, phosphorus, and caseins. No matter what type of snack you eat, it’s typically a good idea to wash it down with some water to help get rid of any sugars that might try to cling to your teeth and cause decay.

Nothing says “I Love You” like keeping their dental health in mind. Remember it’s best to avoid sticky, chewy, and sugary candy that can stick to teeth and erode your enamel. Dark chocolate, high-water-content fruits, and cheese/milk are great dental-friendly Valentine’s Day treat options. These simple sweet treats can play a big role in maintaining you and your loved ones’ dental health, but there is no better way to maintain dental health than with routine dental checkups! Make sure to schedule your next cleaning with us.