How to Enjoy Valentine’s Candy Without Harming Oral Health

People love to celebrate Valentine’s Day with candy, but these “sweets for our sweeties” aren’t often good for our mouths. The ingredients in such treats can cause many smile-related issues. Even so, there’s still hope; you actually can enjoy Valentine’s candy without harming oral health. Your local Stratford dentist will even show you some ways to do so! To that end, here are four great tricks that’ll let you have Valentine’s Day candy without tooth or gum trouble.

Focus on “Tooth-Friendly” Treats

Rather than go for the riskiest sweets, focus on “tooth-friendly” treats that won’t damage your grin. The latter kind won’t disrupt your Valentine’s Day with dental emergencies.

The fact remains that some candies are worse for smiles than others. Hard, sticky, and chewy ones can do a number on your mouth, putting you at risk of chipped teeth, cavities, gum disease, and worse. All that said, only have less dangerous sweets when Valentine’s Day arrives. One example is dark chocolate, which melts quickly and has a low sugar content; another is sugar-free gum with xylitol.

Try to Brush After Eating

Another approach is to brush your teeth after eating any Valentine’s candy. That way, you’ll keep your smile safe from romantic (but orally unhealthy) snacking.

All things considered, brushing your teeth is a great form of preventive oral care. It’ll rid your mouth of the sugar found in most candies, thus keeping plaque from forming on your enamel. That effect is crucial; plaque would otherwise erode your teeth and cause cavities. Of course, the brushing will only be effective if you do it for two minutes and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Drink Lots of Water

Beyond brushing your teeth, you could also drink lots of water once you finish your candy. This practice will defend your grin from various sweets.

Remember: water is free of materials that harm smiles. As such, drinking it would wash away any leftover sugar and food particles in your mouth. The water could also stimulate your body’s production of saliva, which is crucial to keeping your smile healthy.

Book a Dental Checkup Soon

If all else fails (or you want to be extra careful), you can always book a post-Valentine dental checkup. Doing so guarantees that any candy you eat won’t damage your smile.

Even today, dental checkups protect your mouth in ways brushing and flossing alone can’t. They give an experienced and trained dentist a chance to check your teeth and gums for potential issues. In doing so, they ensure thorough removal of plaque and sugar that could cause tooth decay and infections.

To enjoy Valentine’s candy without harming oral health, use the tips above. You can then celebrate romance without worrying about your grin!

About the Practice

Stratford Smiles is based in Stratford, CT. Led by Dr. Yuchen Sheng, our practice helps patients smile with warm, attentive, and expert oral care. We always tailor our treatments to your mouth’s specific needs, whether we’re doing a standard dental checkup or placing dental implants. This personalized approach ensures you (and your family) get truly thriving grins! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (203)-375-3068.