Tips to Prepare Your Child’s Teeth For Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, as all you parents all know. While we’re getting a bunch of toys ready for the Palm Harbor Library, we are also finding that this is the perfect opportunity to talk to kids about keeping their teeth healthy during the holiday season. We all know that Christmas is full of candy and sweet treats, but reminding your kids that taking care of their teeth during this time is more important than ever!

Here are a few things you can do prepare your child’s teeth for the only time of the year when there’s plates and plates of cookies and fudge, candy hanging from trees, and glasses of caramel apple cider around every corner.

• Children on the nice list don’t stop brushing and flossing. Even though Santa’s coming and the sugar is keeping those kids up later and later in anticipation. It’s important to set a No-More-Cookie Time and make sure they brush and floss those teeth before they go to bed. This ensure any excess sugar will be removed from their teeth and prevent tooth decay. Similarly, keeping with the routine and brushing first thing in the morning before breaking into cinnamon rolls and peanut brittle can keep their healthy habit in check, and prepare their teeth for the rest of the day.
• Sneak some of Santa’s milk. When there are endless choices of sweet snacks to munch on choosing healthy options like a glass of milk or a plate of carrots is extremely important. Make sure you kids are eating full meals full of vitamins that can help their teeth, like calcium and vitamins D and A, before they start on the shortbread. This will ensure their bodies are getting the nutrients their teeth need to stay healthy.

Keeping with a consistent oral health regimen even in the thick of the holiday season is extremely important. By making sure your kids are brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time, flossing every night, and still eating healthy meals – despite the urge to switch out carrot sticks for Christmas cookies – you can prepare their teeth for a healthy holiday season.

If you want to double up your efforts this season, schedule a check up after the holidays and we can get your child’s smile off to a Healthy and Happy New Year!