Nobody wants cavities. Unfortunately, there are some habits that are likely to result in cavities, especially during the holidays. The holiday season is a festive time where everyone is cooking and baking something delightful. There are often sweet treats all around and children are more likely to indulge than adults. It’s possible to start developing cavities over just a short period of time. Fortunately, it’s also possible to prevent this from happening. The tips below can help you get through the holiday season without your kiddos developing tooth decay.
Allow Sweets in Moderation
When you think about the holiday season, you probably think about cakes, candy, pies, cookies and so many other sugary delights. That’s because they represent the holiday season and contribute to the joy that people feel during this time of year. Given this fact, it’s no wonder the holiday season is a time when kids are more like to develop cavities. One way to prevent this from happening is by allowing your children to eat sweets in moderation. While you want to make sure they enjoy the holidays, it’s still important to have balance.
How you go about limiting the amount of sugar you kids consume will depend on what they enjoy most. For instance, you can limit the number of cookies they’re allowed to eat. You should also consider not allowing hard candy because it’s notorious for cracking teeth and damaging fillings, in addition to causing cavities.
Keep Extra Toothbrushes Around
You may or may not find it surprising to know that kids don’t always brush their teeth. It really depends on whether or not they have developed good dental care habits. When you’re traveling to visit family during the holidays, there’s a much greater chance of your kids not brushing their teeth, especially if they forget their toothbrush. It’s always a good idea to have extra toothbrushes available. You can purchase a pack of toothbrushes at a very low price. You should also bring toothpaste, mouthwash and floss. These extra measures are necessary because of the amount of sweets being consumed during this time of year.
Schedule a Pediatric Dentist Appointment
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to schedule appointments with your pediatric dentist twice annually. One of the appointments should be during the holiday season because it’s a good preventative measure. It’s also practical because you can ensure they have a bright smile when taking photos during the holidays. Yet another reason why this makes sense is because you have dental benefits that might be loss if you don’t use them by year end.
Skip the Sugary Beverages
In addition to all of the wonderful foods that are around during the holiday season, there are also a lot of sugary beverages. While it could be okay for your kids to enjoy them in moderation, it would be ideal if you encouraged them to skip sugary beverages altogether. In addition to the damage that sodas, apple cider and similar beverages can cause to your kid’s teeth, they’re also empty calories that don’t have any nutritional value.
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year when lots of memories are made. You certainly don’t want to spoil the fun that your kids have by being too strict on what they can eat and drink. However, moderation is certainly appropriate. There are many ways to manage their intake of unhealthy foods, it’s simply a matter of choosing the right solution for your family.