A healthy smile and the holidays don’t often go well together. A big part of keeping your smile healthy is eating sweets in moderation to lower your risk of cavities. A big part of the holidays is filling up on sweet treats like pies, cookies, and cakes. There is a range of other things about the holidays that may work against your smile, but there are some ways to counteract them. One of the best ways to do this is to give your family the tools they need to avoid oral health issues. Read on to get ideas for stocking stuffers that can do just that.

Idea #1: Reusable Straws

Reusable straws are better for the environment than single-use ones since they can be cleaned. They are also better for your smile than drinking without one. One reason for this is because they prevent sugar from having as much contact with your teeth. They also do the same with beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, and cola, all of which can leave unsightly stains on your pearly whites.

Idea #2: Healthy Snacks

Candy is a popular stocking stuffer, but it’s also full of sugar. This sugar feeds the bacteria that cause cavities, therefore raising your risk of tooth decay. There are several replacement options that are better for your family’s teeth, including:

• Almonds, which contain lots of protein to protect your pearly whites
• Sugar-free candies, such as chocolate, hard candy, caramel, and gummies
• Sugar-free gum, which doesn’t contain any sugar and increases saliva production
• Dark chocolate, which contains less sugar than milk chocolate and is easy to wash away

Idea #3: A New Toothbrush

If you brush your teeth with a toothbrush that has frayed bristles, it won’t be as effective at cleaning your smile. This is why it’s important to get new toothbrushes for your family every three to four months. They should also be replaced after getting over an illness to prevent reinfection. If you have a child who is still using a manual toothbrush but is ready to switch to an electric one, get one in their favorite color or decorated with their favorite characters will make the perfect stocking stuffer.

Idea #4: Toothpaste and Dental Floss

Get your child some fun toothpaste to go along with their new toothbrush. There are all kinds of exciting flavors, such as cupcake, strawberry, bacon, pickle, and bubblegum. There are also wacky flavors of dental floss, like waffle, ranch dressing, cherry spiced pumpkin, and banana. These can make your child’s oral hygiene routine more fun so they’re excited to brush and floss their pearly whites.

It can be difficult thinking up interesting, useful stocking stuffers after spending so much time focusing on gifts and cooking a delicious Christmas feast. But, with the above ideas, you can fill your family’s stockings with gifts that both they and their smiles will love!

About the Practice

If you are in need of a team of skilled oral health professionals led by a compassionate dentist, look no further than the dental office of Dr. Jamie L. Guthrie. Since opening her own private dental practice in 2007, she has worked hard to give patients in Ardmore and beyond the exceptional care they deserve. She can also help you avoid oral health issues at home by recommending stocking stuffers that will promote a healthy beam. To set up an appointment with Dr. Guthrie and team or for more information, visit her website or call her office at (580) 224-9600.