To many kids, Christmas is a time for sweet desserts and lots of candy. While these sweet treats are great in moderation, they can also mean bad news for your child’s teeth. You don’t have to completely avoid sweets this holiday season to protect your child’s teeth. You simply need to give them some stocking stuffers that are fun, sweet and good for dental health.
Fun Toothbrushes
Giving a child a toothbrush as a stocking stuffer can seem like a boring idea, but many kids would find the gift to be very fun if the toothbrush has special features. For instance, many child toothbrushes come with character designs from numerous popular shows and movies that kids love. You can also buy toothbrushes that have flashing lights, glow in the dark and play music.
Xylitol Products
You can give your child a better alternative to foods filled with sugar by giving them xylitol products. Xylitol is a sweet teeth-friendly alternative to sugar. You can buy numerous sweet snacks with xylitol instead of sugar such as chewing gum, candies and mints. You can even get mouthwash and toothpaste with xylitol to make your child’s brushing experience tasty and enjoyable.
Flavored Toothpaste and Floss
Most parents buy mint flavored toothpaste and floss. It is definitely the most popular flavor since it leaves you with a clean and fresh feeling after you brush your teeth, but it can also get boring after a while. Toothpaste and floss come in many flavors to make brushing and flossing a fun experience. Some more common alternative flavors are cinnamon and peach, but some of the more interesting, fun and bizarre selections include chocolate, frosting, vanilla, lime and even bacon.
Toothbrush Holder
Like toothbrushes, toothbrush holders come in many shapes and sizes. They can be character themed, shaped like rockets and cars, glow in the dark and light up. While the toothbrush holder itself won’t improve dental health, having a fun toothbrush holder can make a child more excited to go brush their teeth every day.
Sports Mouth Guard
If your child plays a sport, a new mouth guard can be a great stocking stuffer for them. Most schools require the use of a mouth guard when playing sports to protect children from damaging their teeth while playing, but many kids neglect to wear them. Getting them a new mouth guard as a stocking stuffer helps ensure that your child has a clean and strong mouth guard to use while playing sports. In addition, getting mouth guards in new styles and colors can help prompt your child to use a mouth guard on a regular basis while playing.
Conclusion
These stocking stuffers can help ensure that your child’s dental health stays in great shape throughout the entirety of the holiday season and into the new year. However, the most important aspect of dental health is practicing good dental hygiene daily. Here are some of the best ways to keep both you and your child’s teeth healthy and strong as you enjoy some Christmas sweets.
- Drink plenty of water. Water not only helps keep your body hydrated and flushes out toxins, but drinking water regularly is vital to good dental health. It keeps you fuller longer, helping you avoid snacking, and it washes residue from your teeth.
- Brush and floss a half hour after eating sweets. It’s a common misconception that you should immediately brush and floss after every meal, especially if it’s sugary. However, enamel softens after you eat, and brushing immediately after eating can actually damage teeth. It takes about a half hour for enamel to regain its strength.
- Don’t bite hard candies like candy canes. You can easily end up cracking a tooth if you bite down in the wrong way.
At Kids Dental Specialists in Chino, CA, pediatric dentists devote their professional lives to revitalizing and enhancing the natural beauty of your child’s smile. We look forward to helping you improve your dental health. Make an appointment today.
