Don’t be Tempted with Heart-shaped Treats that Ruin Your Breath
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
Ever wonder why winter holidays are famous for their delicious treats? We sure did! From Christmas to Valentine’s Day, seasonal aisles are packed to the brim with tasty chocolates, candies and cookies. Not only are some of these goodies terrible for your waistline, but they can quickly ruin the romantic mood by causing bad breath and other oral health issues. Gooey and sugary candies can wreak havoc on your mouth, but luckily there are several healthier alternatives to satiate your sweet tooth this time of the year. Here are a few to avoid:
Chocolate-covered peeps
Formally an Easter-themed treat, peeps are taking over Valentines with a bit of food coloring and a change of heart – you won’t find these candies shaped like bunnies this season. Although fairly low in calories, these candies will stay in your mouth long after you’ve devoured them. Gooey candies, like peeps, can easily get stuck in your teeth and in the crevices of your mouth. Since they are made of almost primarily sugar, it will attract bacteria to stick around in your mouth. This can cause bad breath in a jiffy, possibly prompting your Valentine’s date to scurry out the door.
Reese’s heart
Ooey, gooey centers are by far the worst candies for you, but sticky peanut butter filling is equally as harmful. The highly-processed filling contains oils and preservatives, which are fairly dangerous to your overall health, but Reese’s in general are also bad for your teeth. Just like the peeps, these candies get stuck in your teeth and in the crevices of your mouth quickly.
Turtles
Simply biting into the caramel goodness of a turtle just causes the “yum” reflex to kick in, but these treats are among the worst for your teeth. Caramel is even sticker than peanut butter, so it can stick around for quite some time. Luckily, the little bit of crunch in these candies can scrape away some of the caramel, but these are still on the “bad” list. If you must indulge, make sure to drink some water afterward and limit yourself to one treat.
