Healthy Teeth & Holiday Treats
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL HEALTH DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
The holiday season is here! Celebrating the holidays can look different to many people and their cultures. However, there is typically one thing that we can all agree on. The holidays mean lots of time with family and friends and lots of eating! This is especially a time that many of us love to enjoy fun treats and sweets. You may be tucking your children into bed each night with ‘visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads’ and enjoying a late night cookie yourself while waiting for Santa. With all the extra indulgences this time of year, how do you keep from letting holiday sweets lead to a sour springtime for you and your child?
Fortunately, all the fun and merriment does not need to lay waste to your important tooth care regimen or have a negative impact on your child’s overall oral and dental health. With just a few important reminders and steps to follow, you can help your child enjoy holiday sweets without worrying about a “sour springtime” (or an expensive dental appointment).
Important Reminder #1: Remember what sugar does to your teeth.
It is important to understand what happens to your teeth when you eat sugar. When you enjoy a sweet snack or beverage, bacteria in your mouth break down the sugar, producing acid. This acid dissolves the tooth’s surface - enamel - which is the first stage of tooth decay.
When enamel becomes weak, your child is more likely to get a cavity.
Important Reminder #2: Don’t forget to brush!
Brushing your child’s teeth or reminding and incentivizing your child to brush their own teeth after meals, and particularly after eating sugary foods, is an important part of keeping your child’s teeth healthy through the holiday season. But if your child is like most inquisitive kids, they may ask, “Why?” Below are some simple answers you can share with your child to help them understand the importance of brushing teeth.
Brushing Removes Bacteria - Brushing teeth right after eating helps to remove the sugar acids quickly and prevent plaque from forming on your enamel.
Brushing Promotes Healthy Saliva - Brushing regularly after you eat also helps to keep your saliva properly balanced and keeps a healthy mouth by washing away bacteria and plaque.
Brushing keeps your mouth fresh and clean! Remind your child: we wouldn’t eat our meals with dirty spoons or forks. In the same way, we don’t want to chew our food with dirty, bacteria-covered teeth either.
Need more help encouraging your child to brush their teeth? Or do you have a little one and need help getting started? For more information on how to brush your child’s teeth correctly, read our blog post here and download our FREE printable tooth brushing chart for kids.
6 Simple Tips to Keep Teeth Healthy After A Holiday of Sugary Treats
Please remember that your child CAN enjoy holiday treats, but try to keep the sugary edibles in moderation. However, even after all the parties and celebrations have come to an end and perhaps your child has indulged more than you would have preferred (it happens!), there are some things you can do to improve the enamel of the teeth to help restore healthy, strong teeth.
Chew sugarless gum - this tip may surprise you, but chewing sugarless gum will stimulate your saliva flow, and saliva can naturally reverse the damage to your enamel in a natural process called remineralization.
Eat high-fiber fruits and vegetables.
Add dairy to your diet - Did you know that a diet rich in dairy contains calcium and phosphates which strengthen teeth?
Drink plenty of water to stimulate your saliva and wash away acids.
Brush your teeth regularly with a toothpaste that contains fluoride to strengthen your enamel.
And finally…keep your regular dental appointments! The best way to keep your teeth healthy and clean - AND keep from expensive cavity bills this spring - is to keep your regular professional cleaning. Take the time now to schedule your child’s post-holiday dental cleanings and exams at Dr. Caple’s office and keep their smiles healthy and bright!
At the office of Dr. Brent Caple, pediatric dentist in Rogers, Arkansas, we know that the best pediatric dental care extends beyond the dental chair. We want to empower parents and children with resources and preventative education in order to help kids enjoy a lifetime of oral and dental health. If you have any questions about your child’s dental care, please call our office or book your next appointment with Dr. Caple today.