National Candy Month | How To Celebrate Without Ruining Your Teeth

June is approaching quickly. Not only does it mean the first day of summer will be here before you know it, but so will national candy month. You can celebrate national candy month without ruining your chompers. Here are some fun ways to celebrate while keeping your teeth healthy.

Healthier Candy

If you want to indulge in some candy during national candy month, stick with healthier options. Candy doesn't always have to be something to fear. While none of it should be recommended as part of a healthy diet, sticking to healthier options will allow you to indulge guilt-free occasionally.

Sugar free

Candy has sugar free options. Many people opt for the real thing because of the health risks linked with artificial sweeteners, however, more candy is coming out with "naturally sweetened" labels. If you're having trouble finding it, look in stores or sections of your store with natural and organic foods. Hard candies commonly come in natural and organic forms.

Dark chocolate

Another option for healthier candy is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has internal and oral health benefits. You may have heard that dark chocolate is high in antioxidants. Antioxidants do more than just keep your immune system running better. They will build up in your saliva and help fight gum disease. Dark chocolate is also high in polyphenols. These chemicals occur naturally in the human body to keep oral bacteria from getting out of control. Consuming more of them will reduce the bacteria in your mouth even further. Since bacteria causes bad breathe, your breathe will smell better too. Finally, dark chocolate is a great source of epicatechin, a flavonoid that slows tooth decay. Not only that, it reduces clogged arteries and cholesterol. Instead of going for the milk chocolate, grab the dark. Make sure it is at least 70% cocoa to enjoy all of the benefits it offers.

Eat healthier sweets

It may be national candy month, but you can celebrate any way you like. If you don't want to spend the entire month eating junk, you can satisfy your sweet tooth the healthy way. There are plenty of ways that you can replace candy with fruit.

Of course, fresh fruit is always an option. You can munch on apples or berries and get the natural sugar from your sweet, healthy treats. Unfortunately, sometimes the textures and tastes get boring and you need to take things up a notch. You can buy fruit in other forms as well to keep your pallet satisfied.

Fruit chips

Apple and banana are common fruits that come in chip form. They're thin and crunchy, close to resembling a potato chip. They'll give your body the satisfaction of eating something with a similar texture, but without all the processed sugar.

Dried fruit

Dried fruit is another way to satisfy your craving for candy. Dried fruits are chewy and resemble gummy worms and rings in texture. You can put them in a bag and snack on them while you work instead of opting for the unhealthy, sugary gummies.

Frozen fruit

If you're a fan of frozen chocolate or ice cream, frozen fruit will be right up your ally. Cut up some fruit in small chunks and put them in the freezer. Fill up a snack bag every time you're ready for your frozen treat.

Make candy for gifts

You don't have to eat candy to celebrate national candy month. You can simply assist others who do. Buy some candy melts and molds to make your own homemade candy. You can put together some gift baskets and distribute them to your friends and coworkers who don't mind eating it.

National candy month doesn't have to send you to the dentist with a mouth full of cavities. You can buy some candy with health benefits, swap the candy for healthier sweets, and make some homemade candy to hand out to loved ones.

For more tips on keeping your teeth healthy, contact a local dental clinic like Claremont Dental Institute.