The holidays are a fun time of the year for you and your family. With all of the activities and excitement, though, it can be easy to forget to take care of your teeth. Fortunately, it’s not hard to protect your child’s smile during the holidays – or any time.
Check out our suggestions here. In the meantime, if you need to bring your child in for a dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, or other service, give us a call at [phone] for an appointment at our Kirkland, WA office.
- Fill Stockings With the Right Candy – Candy canes are nice for decorating the tree but not so great for eating. It’s best to avoid them – and other treats that are sugary, sticky, and hard. Since they are so sticky, they can get into hidden areas of teeth and attract disease-causing bacteria. You can also damage teeth by biting them. Sour candies are especially problematic because they contain lots of acids in addition to sugar. Both are bad for teeth. Give your child chocolate instead. It’s soft and melts easily. So it rinses away from teeth and causes fewer problems.
- Don’t Treat Teeth Like Tools – Caution your child not to use their teeth to open packaging or remove price tags. Teeth are strong, but they’re not designed to cut and tear non-food substances. Use a nutcracker, not your teeth, to remove shells from nuts. Avoid crunching down on ice, popcorn kernels, and other hard substances.
- Don’t Skip Oral Hygiene When Traveling – If your holiday includes a trip, pack a toothbrush and toothpaste where you can get to them if you have to wait for a flight or experience other delays. Changes in routine can disrupt normal oral hygiene habits. Make sure your child still brushes at least twice a day and flosses once.
- Make Smart Choices at the Holiday Table – Avoid excess sugar as much as possible. Serve sweet potatoes without a marshmallow topping. Leave the meringue off pie. Pumpkin is a good option because it contains less sugar than apple, cherry, or other flavors.
- Get a Fluoride Treatment – We don’t expect your child to skip all sugary treats, and we know it can be hard to stick to oral hygiene routines during the holidays. Consider getting a fluoride treatment for your child. It’s quick and easy and helps strengthen their tooth enamel so it’s more resistant to decay.
Let us help you protect your child’s smile! If you need to make appointments for the kids in your family, call Evergreen Pediatric & Airway Dentistry today at [phone].
