5 Tooth-Friendly Holiday Treats Your Smile Will Love
Smile with these tooth-friendly treats.
The holidays are full of sweet temptations, but not all holiday treats are bad for your health. From fruits and vegetables to whole grains and sugar-free options, there is always something that you can create to fit everyone’s taste. If you are looking for alternatives to sweets, the team at Lake Pointe Dental Group in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has some suggestions for tooth-friendly holiday treats.
1. Fresh Fruit Skewers with Cheese
Fruit is always in season, and can be a sweet treat that isn’t so bad for your teeth. Fruit skewers are easy to create—all you need to do is wash your fruit, cut it into bite-size pieces, and slide onto skewers. The great thing about fruit skewers is that they are customizable and can be made with whatever fruit you want, and in any combination.
For a colorful selection, consider adding a fruit from every color of the rainbow, like strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, green grapes, blueberries, and blackberries. Fruit is a great healthy choice because fruits are full of vitamins and minerals that help create healthy smiles.
If you want, add small cubes of cheese to the skewers as well. Low-fat cheese is a great source of calcium, which helps to build healthy teeth and bones.
2. Dark Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
If you have a sweet tooth, dark chocolate-dipped strawberries might be right up your alley. These delectable treats are easy to make, and they are crowd pleasers. All you need to do is melt the chocolate in the microwave, dip the strawberries, then set to the side to let them harden.
Strawberries are a great choice because they contain Vitamin C, which is great for gum health. Dark chocolate is better to use because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate and melts away from your teeth cleanly. Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants, which help protect your body’s cells. If you offer these treats at your holiday gathering, no one will realize that they are secretly tooth-friendly.
3. Roasted Nuts and Spiced Almonds
Nuts are full of protein and minerals that protect teeth, so why wouldn’t you want to include them at your next holiday party? A mixture of roasted and spiced nuts will please a crowd with their satisfying crunch. The best part about these recipes is that you can customize the flavors you use. Try using a little garlic and onion powder when roasting peanuts, or try some paprika, cumin, and cinnamon on roasted almonds to create a little Moroccan fare.
Roasted nuts are easy to make, and just require a sheetpan, an oven, your nuts of choice, and spices. Not only do these smell great while they are roasting, you might even have to hold yourself back from eating them off the tray!
4. Yogurt Parfaits with Holiday Spices
No one can turn down dessert, so make sure you add a yogurt parfait to your holiday party food fare. Non-fat yogurt is a healthier alternative to whipped cream or ice cream, while still being full of calcium, which is great for teeth and bones. Yogurt parfaits are also completely customizable, so you can add in some fresh fruit, like strawberries, and add a crunch with some granola or roasted nuts. Add some holiday flair by sprinkling in some holiday spices, like cinnamon or nutmeg, to the yogurt to add a nice warm flavor.
Yogurt parfaits are also easy to make. You just layer ingredients of your choice into a bowl, cup, or glass, and chill until you’re ready to serve them to the crowd.
5. Homemade Applesauce
Apples can be found all year round, and if your family picked a bunch of apples in the fall, you may be wondering what to do with them. One way to use up your fresh apples is by making applesauce. Apples, by nature, are sweet, so there is no need to add sugar when you make applesauce. Apples are also a great source of Vitamin C, which is great for skin and bones. Apples are also full of fiber.
If you want to add some flavor, try adding different spices. One of the top spices that pairs with applesauce is cinnamon. Applesauce is soft and easy to chew, so it won’t stick to your teeth like apple slices, and the best thing is that all ages can enjoy this snack.
Share your smile with Lake Point Dental Group.
After you’ve had a fun holiday, enjoying your tooth-friendly treats, make sure you take some time to get one of your biannual dental checkups on the calendar. Lake Pointe Dental Group is here to help make your smile happy all year-round. If you haven’t been to our Oklahoma City office in a while, schedule dental checkups for the entire family by giving our office a call. We can’t wait to see you!
