How to Prevent Tooth Decay During the Holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of year! For both your child and the cavity-causing bacteria in their mouth. It’s the dreaded holiday tooth decay. 

It’s hard to find a child who doesn’t love the holidays, and almost all of the holidays come with heaps of sweets and sugary candy.  You want your kids to be able to indulge a little in the holiday festivities, but you also want to keep their teeth healthy. 

When we eat sugar, the bacteria in our mouth feed on the sugar and create a byproduct of acid.  In turn, the acid strips our tooth enamel and erodes our teeth.

To combat any holiday tooth decay that might occur, try these solutions:

• Save treats like candy, cookies, and pies for after mealtime, when the amount of saliva in the mouth is greater and will better protect your child’s teeth.
• Dairy actually acts as a buffer to the acid created by the bacteria in your mouth.  Consider serving milk or cheese with candies and treats.
• Flossing can help get rid of sticky particles that get lodged between the teeth.  Make sure to have your child floss extra well during the holidays.
• To help pace the amount of candy your child consumes around holidays like Halloween and Easter, store the excess candy in a sealed container and place it out of sight.  Establish set times when your child can have a treat.
• Encourage your child to drink more water, and make sure that this water has fluoride in it.

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