Stocking Stuffers That Can Help Keep Smiles Pretty

The holiday season is known for involving a lot of gift-giving. While big-ticket items like bicycles, video game consoles, and sportscars seem to get all of the attention, the smaller gifts known as stocking stuffers mean a lot too. While stockings are traditionally filled with candy and small toys, it’s not a bad idea for Santa to leave a few items in there that can help a child maintain their oral health. Here are some smile-friendly stocking stuffer ideas from your dentist to help keep smiles shiny and bright during the holidays.

A Nice New Toothbrush

Stockings hung up over the holidays are known for being quite oversized, which means that they have plenty of room for dental products as well as candy and small toys. If you’re wondering what would make a fun smile-friendly gift, a new toothbrush can give your child something to smile about. Toothbrushes come in all sorts of colors and some are even printed with images of popular cartoon characters.

If you want to upgrade your child’s oral hygiene, consider getting them an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are actually recommended by dentists over traditional varieties, and they can come with features like timers, song recordings, or even the ability to sync up with a phone so it can provide the user with real-time hygiene advice or even games to play while brushing.

Kid-Friendly Dental Products

Kids aren’t always too fond of the minty flavors that are traditional for most dental hygiene products. Fortunately, manufacturers have produced dental health supplies like dental floss and mouthwash in fun colors and kid-friendly flavors like fruity or bubblegum. Just make sure these products contain fluoride and have the American Dental Association’s seal of approval. Check with your dentist about what kinds of toothpaste a child under two can use and hold off on having your kids use mouthwash until after their sixth birthday.

Tasty and Tooth-Friendly Snacks

Holiday snacks don’t all have to be dental disasters waiting to happen. Nuts have long been a celebrated part of the holiday season, and they contain the protein teeth and gums need to stay healthy and strong. While raisins are sugary and sticky, they also have one of the highest levels of naturally occurring fluoride among foods. Dentists recommend chewing sugar-free gum after meals to help stimulate the mouth’s natural cleaning process.

It’s important for kids to enjoy the holidays, but celebrating shouldn’t lead to emergency dental visits later on. By watching out for your child’s oral health during the holidays, you can help keep their smiles healthy year-round.

About the Author

Dr. Kevin Shively earned his dental doctorate at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and then completed an intense, one-year advanced externship focusing on oral surgery, root canals, and other advanced topics. He has taken more than six hundred hours of continuing education. His office in Lubbock, TX offers general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more tips on preserving your child’s oral health during the holidays, contact his office online or dial (806) 698-8660.