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Last Minute Stocking Stuffers that Won’t Hurt Your Teeth

John Adams • Dec 04, 2015
stocking stuffers

Four Smile Friendly Items to Include in Your Child’s Stocking

Whether we want to believe it or not, Christmas will be here in a just a few weeks! As parents start to gather gifts for their children, they are often tasked with filling their stockings hung by the fireplace. While candy canes and other sweet treats are a popular choice to fill stockings, they aren’t the best choices for keeping children’s teeth and mouth healthy. Here are some great suggestions for parents to consider when choosing tooth-friendly treats for their children’s Christmas stockings.

Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every few months, so the holidays are a great time to do just that. Purchase new toothbrushes and toothpaste for your children and include it with the other items in the Christmas stockings. To make this small gift a little more exciting, you can choose different flavors of toothpaste – there are a number of “different” flavors of toothpaste available on the market including cupcake, chocolate, ice cream, and even bacon! This small touch can add a lot of fun.

Chewing Gum

While your children may love having candy canes, peanut brittle, and chocolate candies in their stocking on Christmas morning, these sweet treats can cause cavities and tooth decay in children’s delicate teeth. A great alternative for traditional candy is chewing gum, specifically those gums that are sweetened with xylitol instead of traditional sugar. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals can actually help to stimulate saliva production, which aids in washing sugars and food particles off the teeth between brushing – this is a guilt free treat that children, parents and even dentists can get on board with!

Mouth Guards

If you have children involved in sports, like wrestling, soccer, football, or other high impact activities, they likely already use a mouth guard to keep their teeth and mouth protected. Like toothbrushes, these items should be replaced every couple of months, so starting the year fresh with a new mouth guard is a great idea. When looking at different mouth guards to purchase the quality of the product is the top concern – additionally, mouth guards come in a variety of different colors and designs.

Children will face enough temptation this holiday season with all of the traditional holiday treats and desserts that will readily available. While it may seem easier to fill their Christmas stockings with the candies and treats they love, thinking outside the box with their stocking stuffers can help keep their oral health in tip top shape while keeping you, and their dentist, happy.

If your children have not been to the dentist lately, start the new year off with a visit to your dentist for a full checkup. If you don’t have coverage, consider signing up for a New Hampshire family discount dental plan like Wellness Dental. Our plan can save you as much as 20 percent off all preventive and emergency care visits. For more information, click here.

Photo Copyright: yobro10 / 123RF Stock Photo



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