How to Protect Your Kids' Teeth This Christmas Holiday

Christmas is a time for joy and cheer. However, the holiday season is also a surprisingly dangerous one for your oral health. With candy, cookies, and other sugary treats all around, it's easy for your kids to get carried away and eat far more than they should.

Educate Your Kids About Good Oral Health Habits

It's generally recommended that parents provide their growing children with fluoride supplements to help them develop strong and healthy teeth, but it's important to take the right dosage at the right time. Fluoride is important for kids' dental health because it protects tooth enamel from plaque and acids that can damage the teeth. However, too much fluoride can upset a child's stomach and cause other health problems.

It's best to start implementing healthy oral habits in your children early. This includes brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time using a soft bristle toothbrush. It's also important to limit sugary snacks and drinks, as these foods increase the chances of developing cavities over time. Make sure your child visits our practice twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings. During these appointments, our experienced dentist will clean away plaque and tartar buildup from the teeth and gum line. This helps children maintain clean mouths and fresh breath in between cleanings and exams. 

Start Early

As a parent, your job is to protect your child's teeth. This is especially true during the holidays when sugary treats and holiday goodies abound. You don't want your child to pick up bad habits that could lead to tooth decay down the line. Instead, you should encourage healthy eating habits and regular brushing habits starting now. You should also provide kids with a fluoride mouthwash that can help prevent cavities between visits with the dentist.

Childhood is the best time to instill good habits that will last a lifetime. You should start brushing your children's gums as soon as they appear in the mouth. Once they have two teeth side by side, you can introduce a soft toothbrush to gently clean the teeth and gums. As soon as their teeth grow, they should visit a dentist to have their teeth cleaned and examined. If your child is old enough to understand instructions, a gentle toothbrushing routine can be taught to them at this time.

Limit Sugary Snacks

The longer your kids' snack on candy and sweets, the longer their smile is exposed to sugar and its damaging effects. Even rinsing the mouth with water afterward won't remove the sugar from teeth.

To reduce your family's risk of cavities this holiday, limit your child's snacking to mealtimes. You can also switch out some of the sweet treats with healthier options like fruit slices or cheese cubes. If you do allow your kid to have a sweet treat, try to have them brush their teeth as soon as possible after. That way, they can reduce their exposure to sugar and have fresher breath when the family opens presents on Christmas morning!

By following proper dental hygiene habits over the holidays and limiting your children's exposure to sugary foods and drinks, you can help them maintain a beautiful and healthy smile!

Choose Healthy Snacks

Candy and sweets can have devastating effects on your child's smile, especially over the holidays when sugar intake is at an all-time high! Before the festivities start, be sure to stock up on healthy and teeth-friendly snacks like low-fat yogurt, cheese sticks, baby carrots, and clementine oranges. Offering these to your kids before the sugary treats are eaten can help prevent hyperactivity and cavities caused by constant snacking on candy and chocolates.

Chaffee Pediatric Dentistry provides solutions for all your child's dental problems. We are located at 1239 East McKellips Rd #107, Mesa, AZ 85203. You can reach us at 480.739.2993.