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You have the house decorated, the Christmas tree with presents underneath, and stockings hung up on the mantle. And on Christmas morning, those stockings will be filled with an assortment of gifts that bring joy to your child.
As you plan your child’s Christmas stocking gifts this year, pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, from Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, remind you to choose gifts that won’t cause unwanted cavities or a tooth emergency over the holidays. Give your child these stocking stuffers that they, as well as their teeth, will love.
Chocolate is a classic Christmas treat, and the great news is, it’s good for teeth, too. Unlike other kinds of sweets, chocolate doesn’t stick to teeth and avoids unhealthy plaque buildup.
Dark chocolate has lower amounts of sugar, so it’s even better than milk chocolate. There’s even evidence that dark chocolate can help strengthen your child’s teeth.
You can enjoy roasting chestnuts and any other nuts your child enjoys over the open fire together guilt-free. Nuts are great for your child’s overall health and don’t stick to gums as candy does.
If your child prefers something sweeter, chocolates and candy with added nuts are also a great choice.
Enjoyed in moderation, sugar-free treats are far better for your child’s teeth than candy with sugar. Chewing sugar-free gum or eating a sugar-free sweet after a big Christmas meal can even help stimulate saliva production, which aids in removing plaque quickly.
Tooth care equipment your child enjoys is a great stocking stuffer, too. A toothbrush your child loves can help them stay enthusiastic about their preventive dental home care routine.
There are so many ADA-approved kids’ toothbrushes available that are fun colors or feature your child’s favorite character. Some children would also benefit from a kids’ electric toothbrush that makes brushing easier.
If your child is tired of mint-flavored toothpaste and flavorless floss, putting an alternative in their stocking can put a spring back into their tooth care. Buy your child toothpaste and dental floss in their favorite flavor.
Keeping track of the two-minute tooth brushing time can be a chore for children. Instead of a phone or watch, buy them a cute timer for Christmas to keep in the bathroom.
Drinking water throughout the day helps stimulate saliva production and helps keep plaque off your child’s teeth when they don’t have a toothbrush. A cool-looking, reusable water bottle your child can bring to school and other activities helps them stay hydrated.
With extra time off from school, the holiday season can be a great time to schedule your child’s routine dental cleaning. Our team is also here to help if your child has a dental emergency over the holidays.
Don’t hesitate to contact us about any preventive or urgent dental care your child needs over winter break.
