From candy canes to cupcakes, there’s no shortage of sweet treats during the holidays. With sugary temptations around every corner, it’s more important than ever to focus on proper oral care for young children.
As always, be sure your little ones are brushing their teeth thoroughly, with adult supervision, at least twice a day, and flossing regularly. For the littlest ones, make sure to make brushing part of the routine, one they will follow for years to come.
Although brushing can seem pretty mundane, the task can be a bit more exciting by adding some oral care-focused stocking stuffers into your children’s routine this winter and beyond.
- Musical light-up toothbrushes: There are a variety of fun new toothbrushes for children on the market. Some play songs to encourage brushing for a full minute and others have twinkly lights and timers on them. You can find characters ranging from dinosaurs and unicorns and superheroes. The great part about a jazzed-up toothbrush is that it makes brushing much more fun.
- Flavored toothpaste: If your kids are adventurous and like to try new things, this is the perfect stocking stuffer for them. There are fun toothpaste flavors ranging from bubble gum and strawberry to blue raspberry and watermelon. Organic, all-natural options are available, along with more common name brands found at local grocery stores. But regardless of which flavors you try, these toothpastes will encourage regular brushing all year long.
- Colorful flavored flossers: Brightly colored, fun-flavored flossers can help make flossing fun. Floss picks come in shapes like giraffes and sharks and flavors include grape, mint, and bubble gum. No matter which type of flosser you choose, these child-friendly floss picks are much easier than traditional dental floss and a lot more fun to use.
- Dentist-themed children’s books: Since it is recommended that a child’s first dental visit happen by their first birthday or when their first tooth appears, reading books about what to expect at the dentist is extremely helpful. Children’s books about the dentist are easy to find online and in local bookstores. They can help reduce any fears a child may have ahead of their twice-a-year dentist’s visits.
- Toys: As adults know, sometimes a child just wants a new toy for the holidays. Luckily, there are several types of dentist-themed toys that can help them learn about going to the dentist while having fun. With a quick online search, you can find a children’s dentist playset in several sizes and prices.
Taking care of your children’s teeth and gums is a full-time job all year long. However, incorporating some of the gifts above into your holiday shopping list makes the task of brushing and flossing much more enjoyable. Happy Holidays!
