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. 

How to Prevent Tooth Decay During the Holidays

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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