Your Teeth and Treats: Maintaining Healthy Teeth on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a day where you get to celebrate your love for someone special in your life. You can do this through taking them out for a night on the town, or even staying in to see a movie at home. Many people decide to give their special someone a small token of their love and appreciation in the form of a gift like flowers. However, even more commonly given are those Valentine’s Day treats we’ve all come to love, from chocolates to those conversation sweetheart candies. However, a large consumption of these sweet treats can actually be detrimental to your dental health! Show your teeth some love this Valentine’s Day, and follow these tips for maintaining your dental health:

Practice Dental Hygiene

To maximize your teeth’s protection against tooth decay and gum disease, make sure you continue to practice regular dental hygiene habits, such as brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. It’s especially important that you brush your teeth before you go to bed; that way, you can remove all of the food particles and sugars that have built up on your teeth after a day of Valentine’s Day treat consumption or special dinners. By doing so, you’re eliminating the chance of plaque developing on your teeth overnight.

Drink Lots of Water

By drinking water, you’re helping your mouth clean itself of any lingering food particles and sugars that may be left over from those sugary treats. In addition, by drinking water, you supply your teeth with a healthy fluoride rinse, further protecting it from decay.

Find Other Alternatives

While you may love those Valentine’s Day treats, there are plenty of other tasty alternatives that are less harmful to your teeth! Fruits from a fruit basket, trail mix, or nuts are just some other alternatives that your teeth will be happier with.

Finally, after the Valentine’s Day festivities are over, don’t forget to book an appointment with our office for a routine dental exam and cleaning; your smile will thank you for it later! Happy Valentine’s Day!