The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends. But often, that comes with consuming sweet treats that may not be the healthiest option.

Luckily, it’s easy to add tooth-healthy options to your favorite holiday refreshments. This holiday season, celebrate with these five treats that are both delicious and beneficial to your oral health.

Cinnamon-Baked Pumpkin 

Cinnamon is one of the most beneficial spices for your oral health. It helps prevent inflammation, and its antioxidant effects can help fight bacteria. Pumpkin also has a wide array of vitamins that boost your oral health. Vitamin A improves dry mouth, and magnesium can help prevent development of gum disease.

Try this cinnamon-baked pumpkin dish instead of a sugary pie this holiday season. Enjoy the seasonal flavors of pumpkin and cinnamon, and reap these ingredients’ oral health benefits.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark 

If you saw our tooth-healthy Halloween post, you read that dark chocolate is better for you than other candy. It melts quickly and is less likely than other sugary desserts to stick to your teeth. A recent study showed that theobromine found in cacao beans has been shown to help protect tooth enamel.

Combine dark chocolate with peppermint to make this decadent dark chocolate peppermint bark. Consumed in moderation, this tooth-healthy treat will leave you and your guests with fresh breath.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

Often deemed a summertime dessert, there’s no reason chocolate covered strawberries can’t be enjoyed year-round. Strawberries are high in Vitamin C, which helps keeps gums strong and prevent inflammation. As with peppermint bark, choose dark chocolate, which is lower in sugar than milk or white chocolate.

Turmeric Ginger Cookies 

Both turmeric and ginger can benefit your oral health. If you don’t find yourself consuming them enough in your regular diet, why not combine them into a delicious and tooth-healthy treat? Both turmeric and ginger have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help protect your mouth and gums from disease. These turmeric ginger cookies include other tooth-healthy ingredients like cinnamon.

Red Velvet Beet Cupcakes 

Beets have a variety of health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help prevent tooth decay. While a dessert can’t make up for the health benefits in whole beets, you can get some of their nutrients in these red velvet beet cupcakes.

While making these tooth-healthy treats will help protect your oral health this holiday season, they are still treats. Some recipes include ingredients like sugar that can harm your oral health if you aren’t careful. Plan to make up for the sweets you consume with proper oral hygiene throughout the holidays, including brushing twice and flossing daily.