The moment you hear jingling bells and notice the first signs of Christmas décor on the shelves of your local stores, you might fly into a sort of quiet panic. As much as you enjoy holiday time with the ones you love, you know that the countdown to endless mounds of candies and cookies is on its way. If it were just you and a few adults, well there would be no problem. But when it comes dealing with children who cannot wait to indulge, parents can find it difficult to protect developing smiles without feeling like spoil sports. Allow us to share some advice for preventive care that lasts through the winter holidays.

Keep Sugarless Gum On Hand

Do you have a child or two with a major sweet tooth? Keep sugarless gum on hand. Pass it around when you’re out and about or after meals – it happens to offer effective preventive care benefits. The gum helps rid teeth of leftover food as well as plaque. As your child chews, he or she will salivate, which washes away even more “bad stuff” from an otherwise healthy smile.

Give Out Glasses Of Water

Rest easy and adhere to this plan: Hand your child a glass of water with meals, after dessert, and any time he or she is thirsty. In addition to hydrating the drinker, water offers wonderful preventive care properties, including the following:

  • Drinking water after a meal rinses away food particles and sugar
  • Rinsing away debris and sugar reduces the acidity in your child’s mouth, decreasing the chance of tooth decay and gum inflammation
  • If you prefer that your child brushes after meals in addition to twice daily sessions, rinsing with water is the first step, which should be followed by brushing after 30 minutes passes

ABOUT YOUR RIVERSIDE, CA DENTISTS:

At Dental Associates of Riverside, your dentists look forward to caring for you and every member of your family with a comprehensive selection of services. We will maintain and improve your oral health with preventive, cosmetic, restorative, implant, and emergency dentistry. We also specialize in endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and orthodontics, serving patients from Riverside, CA  and all surrounding locations. To schedule an appointment, contact us today at (951) 689-5031.