The holiday season is here! Is your family excited? It’s the perfect time of year for enjoying traditions, eating delicious meals, and telling your loved ones you appreciate them. However, with so many sugary treats and busy schedules, it can be a tough season for your child’s oral health. It’s important that you take a few simple but important precautions if you want to skip a trip to your Randolph children’s emergency dentist during the festivities! Here are five tips to keep in mind to make sure your family enjoys an emergency-free holiday season.
Keep Those Pearly Whites Clean
The saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true when it comes to caring for your son or daughter’s smile! Keeping up a routine of great oral hygiene habits is essential for lowering their risk of most oral health issues, including cavities, toothaches, gum disease, and even damaged enamel. So whether your family is celebrating bright and early or late into the night, make sure they’re taking the time to thoroughly brush and floss those pearly whites.
Choose Carrots Over Candy
Cookies, pies, and other sugary treats are in no shortage this time of year, which can be bad news for your little one’s smile! Remember, children are particularly prone to tooth decay because baby teeth have less protective enamel than permanent teeth, and many children are still learning how to properly brush and floss on their own. Snacking on sweets all day provides a constant stream of fuel for cavity-causing bacteria in their mouth and dramatically increases their risk of painful toothaches. Ensure your little one has plenty of healthy snacks like carrots, apples, cheese, and turkey this holiday season!
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is important all year long, but it’s especially important to keep in mind during the holidays. Not only will drinking water throughout the day boost your child’s immune system, but it will help wash away any lingering sugars, acids, or food particles in their mouth that would otherwise cause oral health problems. Most tap water is even fortified with fluoride, which works to strengthen your child’s enamel and protect it from decay and damage.
Protect Their Smile During Reindeer Games
Will your son or daughter be enjoying some reindeer games this year? If they’ll be participating in sports like football, basketball, or soccer, make sure they’re wearing a sports mouthguard. Even if it’s just a simple game with family and close friends in the backyard, a mouthguard is a must-have to keep your little one’s teeth safe from being knocked out or broken. A custom-made sports mouthguard from your dentist can even help minimize damage to the jaw as well as potentially lower risk of concussions.
Make Time for the Dentist
It’s no secret that the holidays are a busy time of year. However, if your child is due for a checkup or dental work, don’t put it off! Your dentist will ensure your family’s smiles are happy, healthy, and ready to safely enjoy this special time of year. They may even be able to spot and stop a potential issue before it has a chance to interrupt your family’s festivities!
About the Practice
At Simply Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, we’re committed to helping the young smiles of Randolph and the surrounding communities stay healthy as they grow. We encourage our patients to come in every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning to get the high-quality preventive care they need to keep their oral health on track all year long. However, should your child experience a dental emergency, we offer quick, compassionate care when your family needs it most. For more holiday oral health tips, feel free to reach us online or at (781) 767-7200.