How Winter Illnesses Affect Tooth Health
It's everyone's least favorite part about this time of year. No, not the cold weather; we're talking about the cold season. As the temperatures drop and the winter season sets...
Christmas is the topic on most parents’ minds at this time of the year. When considering stocking stuffers, we have a few excellent recommendations to help in keeping your child’s mouth and teeth at their healthiest for the coming new year. Skip the Lifesaver storybooks and gift your kids something that will benefit them (and your wallet) now, and in the future.
Kid-Friendly Toothpaste
Kids don’t always love brushing with mint or bubblegum-flavored toothpaste. Today’s toothpaste aisle is filled with different options and flavors that are sure to excite your child. Unique flavors like bacon, chocolate, cupcake and ice cream can provide a much-needed change. Getting kids excited again about the routine of brushing their teeth can be done with simple concepts such as rotating the toothpaste flavors each week. Always make sure the toothpaste you select contains fluoride to fight tooth decay.
Dental Floss For Kids
Flossing has a number of benefits, and even children should be flossing once a day. By adding flossing to your child’s daily brushing schedule, you decrease the impact of gum disease while improving the total health of your child’s mouth. Making flossing fun is usually a challenge, so we recommend flavored floss for kids. Like toothpaste, dental floss now comes in a variety of different flavors from cupcake to pickles.
A Tooth Fairy Kit
Has the Tooth Fairy made her first visit to your house yet? Whether she has or not, it’s never too late to make a special Tooth Fairy box for Christmas stockings. Not only will the Tooth Fairy appreciate you making it a little easier for her to find those teeny-tiny teeth in the middle of the night, but your kids will love it too. Gather all of the materials into an activity kit and enjoy this fun craft project together.
Dental Hygiene Kit
Create the ultimate dental hygiene kit that comes with all kinds of goodies including
- A compact mirror to check for left-behind food
- A pop-up folding cup for rinsing
- A mini-toothbrush for on-the-go cleaning
- Mini toothpaste
- Flavored floss
- Mini mouthwash
- Lip balm
Add in a few other essentials including a hairbrush, a mini deodorant, and any other mini-favorites to make the focus less on dental hygiene and more on them. Pack all of the survival kit items into a lightweight nylon pouch for easy, on-the-go convenience.
Unique Toothbrush
Everyone loves a new toothbrush on Christmas morning. Instead of their usual pink or blue toothbrush, opt for a unique option that gets your kids excited about oral hygiene. The toothbrush aisle is full of character brushes, brushes that light up and even brushes that play music while you clean your teeth! Be sure to choose a soft-bristled toothbrush with the appropriately sized head for smaller mouths.
Cavity-Fighting Xylitol Gum
Chewing sugar-free Xylitol gum can help in the production of saliva which washes away trapped food particles from your teeth. Gum containing Xylitol has been proven to help reduce cavities, making it a must-have stocking stuffer for the entire family.
Sports Mouthguard
Does your child play sports? If so, consider getting a mouthguard for Christmas, so their teeth are adequately protected. Even if they already have one, a new color or style can get kids excited about staying in the habit of wearing one.
A Future Dental Exam
With Christmas right around the corner, keep in mind your child’s dental health needs when it comes to choosing appropriate stocking stuffers. Give them a gift that will not only help keep their teeth healthy but will also benefit them for years to come. Let Dr. Baudean and our team know what kid-friendly stocking stuffers you found at your first exam of 2019.
