Love Your Teeth this Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day is all about showing someone special how much you care about them – but this traditionally involves tooth-staining red wine and cavity-causing chocolates. If you want to give your Valentine something to smile about this year, give the gift of oral health. After all, what could be more romantic than looking after your Valentine’s smile? Here are our tips for the best choices you can make this Valentine’s Day to show your teeth some love.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolates are a traditional Valentine’s Day gift, but most are packed with sugar. However, dark chocolate is actually surprisingly good for your teeth. Cocoa contains a range of antioxidants that stop bacteria from sticking to your teeth, preventing bad breath, gum infections, and tooth decay. And that’s not all – recent studies have found that a compound found in cocoa can help harden tooth enamel. Cocoa is the magic ingredient, so the higher the percentage, the better. If you look around, you can find 90% and even 100% bars – but you can start with a lower percentage if you aren’t sure of your Valentine’s tastes. With a rich and sophisticated flavour, dark chocolate makes the perfect indulgent Valentine’s Day gift.
Sugar-Free Gum
When you’re spending Valentine’s Day with someone special, the last thing you want to worry about is bad breath. But before you grab some chewing gum, make sure it’s sugar-free. Chewing sugar-free gum can help remove and neutralise the acids produced by the bacteria in plaque. Artificial sweeteners in the gum and the act of chewing itself increases saliva flow, which helps to wash away food particles. What’s more, gum sweetened with xylitol has been found to slow the growth of cavity-causing oral bacteria by preventing them from adhering to the tooth. The health benefits of xylitol-sweetened gum have only been discovered in recent years, but it is easy to find online and in health shops.
Strawberries
The perfect end to a romantic Valentine’s Day meal is a light but indulgent dessert, and strawberries are a delicious and healthy choice. They are naturally rich in vitamin C, which is needed to produce collagen, a protein that helps prevent gum disease. Vitamin C can also reduce inflammation and strengthen your blood vessels – both vital for healthy gums. Strawberries even contain malic acid, which whitens enamel naturally. Just remember to floss afterwards to get rid of any strawberry seeds stuck between your teeth!
At Norfolk Dental Specialists, we want our patients to love their teeth all year round – not just on Valentine’s Day. If you need any advice on how to maintain a healthy smile, our team of dental hygienists will be happy to help.