Updated: 1/24/2020
Raise your hand if you have a sweet tooth! Now raise your hand if your teeth suffer from it. Consuming large amounts of sugar can rot your teeth quicker than you can say, “Be my Valentine.” While the consequences usually don’t look good for your oral health, all isn’t lost for those of us with a major sweet tooth. Lucky for us, there are alternative candies and snacks that won’t harm our teeth.
When Valentine’s Day rolls around, one of the most classical gifts people give is candy. Good for the taste, bad for the teeth. Look below at the infographic of statistics on Valentine’s Day chocolate from previous years:
$1.057 billion dollars for something that will rot your teeth? No thank you.
I’ll tell you a secret: some candy is actually good for your teeth. You probably just let out a surprised gasp or an excited squeal – unless you already knew that, in which case, good for you! Nevertheless – it’s true: some candies contain a sugar substitute called Xylitol. Before you go cringing at the word “substitute” hear me out. Not only is Xylitol sweet, but it reduces the risk of tooth decay and has long-lasting oral health benefits.
Candies that Contain Xylitol and Are Good for Your Teeth
Tingz
These candies are made for kids and come in two fun fruit flavors.
Gummy Bears
Who doesn’t love these cute, squishy and tasty snacks?
Xylitol Candy
There is an actual candy that is 100% xylitol that has its own sweet taste.
Non-Sugar Substitutes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Fruit
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- Chocolate-dipped strawberries (Go with dark chocolate)
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Photo by Shari’s Berries / CC BY
Frozen chocolate bananas
- Fruit popsicles
- Banana ice cream
- Homemade sherbet
- Baked apple & cinnamon
- Frozen grapes
- Smoothies
Creamy or Crunchy Snacks
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- Yogurt
- Dark Chocolate
- Peanut Butter (try it with veggies/graham crackers/fruit)
- Pudding
- Chocolate milk
- Animal crackers
Are you hungry now? Well, go ahead and take our advice – eat some sweets without worrying about your poor teeth. Hopefully we’ve inspired you for some new and delicious Valentine’s gifts this year, too.
What other alternatives do you eat when you crave sweets?
