tooth-friendly dessertsTis’ the season for spending time with the family and indulging in those delicious holiday desserts we crave all year long! From holiday cookies to chocolate truffles and apple pie, sugary treats are a staple this time of year. However, it is still important to consider the effect that these desserts can have on your teeth if you don’t want to end up on your dentist’s naughty list. Here are some tooth-friendly dessert options that will help keep your pearly whites in tip-top shape for the many holiday seasons to come!

Rice Pudding

Rice pudding is a dessert that you either love or hate, but it can be a great alternative to sugar-laden ice cream. It has less sugar and fewer calories than other desserts. You can buy rice pudding at the store, but if you make it at home you can further control the amount of sugar in the recipe. You can also replace some of the sugar in the recipe with sweetener substitutes such as cinnamon, which will also give it an added holiday flavor punch!

Specialty Cheeses

Looking for a delicious holiday snack to hold you over till dinner? Something you might be surprised to learn is that cheese is a great holiday appetizer that can actually help to protect your teeth! It works to protect your enamel against erosion. The calcium in cheese can help to regain the minerals your teeth might have lost from other foods. So before the holiday party, do your guests a favor by getting rid of the sugary snacks and swapping them out for an assortment of specialty cheeses.

Apple Crisp

Nothing can compete with an apple crisp when it comes to holiday comfort food. Did you know that it actually includes several ingredients that are friendly on your teeth too? Typically, apple crisp is topped with calcium-rich walnuts and sometimes oatmeal with a small amount of maple syrup to give the crisp that sweet festive flavor.

Dark Chocolate

You can never go wrong with chocolate! On top of being a staple in most holiday desserts, dark chocolate is also not too bad for your teeth (not to mention it’s really good for your heart) because it melts fast! We’re talking about the 70% cacao chocolate, not the super sugary milk chocolate that most children prefer. So if you didn’t know what to stuff stockings with this year, we just gave you a great option!

If you have a sweet tooth, it can be hard to put down the sugary holiday desserts. By swapping out these sugar-laden desserts for more health-conscious options, you’ll be setting a great example for your family members while improving your oral health as well! If you’re overdue for regular dental maintenance, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Jen today.