Never Take Your Healthy Teeth for Granted

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you may want to consider a way to show the apple of your eye how much you love them without impacting their oral health. While Valentine's Day is often associated with decadent foods, there are lots of delicious treats that can be enjoyed without damaging the teeth. Here are some safe, tooth-friendly alternatives to typical V-Day sweets:

1. Heart-Shaped Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

Breakfast in bed is something that some individuals would love to experience. If you have a significant other that you want to cook breakfast for, consider cooking heart-shaped pancakes. You'll need a heart-shaped cookie cutter to do this. If your significant other is a health nut or you want to consider a tooth-friendly pancake alternative, consider this recipe for blueberry pancakes made with whole wheat flour. If pancakes aren't up their alley, then you can also opt for a heart-shaped biscuit and sausage by using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to prepare this delicious breakfast option.

2. Fruit Kabobs in a Vase Served with Low-Fat Yogurt

If you have a significant other who doesn't necessarily like flowers, but they are concerned with oral health, then consider creating a vase of fruit kabobs. Get a piece of Styrofoam to put in the vase that you can use to stick the kabob sticks into to hold them steady and help you form the appearance of a bouquet. Opt for fruits that are good for the teeth, such as strawberries, apples, watermelons and pineapples. Don't forget to make sure to include some low-fat yogurt that can be enjoyed with the fruit.

3. Dark Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Chocolate-covered strawberries are very popular at Valentine's Day, as they are synonymous with romance, love and passion. However, chocolate isn't good for the teeth. Luckily, you can still enjoy them by simply switching the milk chocolate with some dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants that can help promote better physical and dental health. In fact, it can help fight tooth decay, prevent gum infections, keep bacteria off of your teeth and neutralize microorganisms that cause bad breath. For optimal benefits, just make sure you are working with a dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa.

Before Valentine's Day arrives, make sure to schedule an appointment at a local dental office, such as Four Corners Dental Group, to make sure your teeth are ready for romance.