Blogmas #19 How to Protect Your Kid’s Smile During the Holiday Break

So, my daughter just came to ask if she could have three of her Hershey kisses. Omg, the amount of sugar consumed during the holiday season is ridiculous. I told her no because she’s still eating chocolate cake from her birthday. They’re out of school for the holiday break. With the ongoing festivities and the lack of a planned schedule, their daily routines usually get ignored. Late nights spent playing video games and binge-watching movies can lead to oral hygiene routines being ignored too. This holiday season I urge you to help your children establish and maintain healthy dental care practices.

Although tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children, it is preventable. Here are a few steps to help prevent decay during the holiday season.

• Make sure your child brushes their teeth at least two times a day. For children 8 years and younger, I advise parents to help with brushing.
• Make sure your child clean between their teeth at least 1 time a day. Again, aid with this step if needed.
• Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride.  
• Try getting in to see their dentist during the break. Preventive dental healthcare is important in maintaining good oral health. If there aren’t any appointments available, make sure to schedule the first available appointment.
• The holiday season means increased sugar intake and slack dental hygiene practices. Parents monitor how much sugar your children are eating. Focusing on the type of drinks they’re having. Most of the sugar consumed is from drinks. Your child’s diet is the foundation for good oral health.
• Limit snack time to two or three times a day. Constant grazing on carb rich foods increases your child’s chances of having tooth decay. Pay attention to foods such as crackers, pretzels, and potato chips.
• Check the labels on your foods. This is one way to limit the amount of sugar being consumed by your children. You can opt to get the sugar free version of as many items as possible.
• Cheese, fruits, and vegetables are great snack options.

Your kids may not like some of these especially when they have easy access to holiday treats, but they’ll appreciate receiving a good report at their next dental visit.