The holiday season is a fun and exciting time for kids. However, it can be a tough time for their smiles! Too much sugar and starch are a recipe for tooth decay, leading to painful toothaches. In today’s blog, your Round Rock, TX, pediatric dentist talks about how to help kids enjoy healthy smiles throughout the holiday season.

Holiday Sweets

Many of their favorite holiday treats, such as cookies, snack cakes, or pies, are high in sugar. This goes for hot cocoa and eggnog too! Which means when your children consume them, this coats the teeth in particles of sugar, which cling to them. Harmful oral bacteria will then breakdown and consume these trapped particles, and elevate oral acidity as a result. The teeth also become coated in layers of plaque buildup. Plaque cannot be removed with brushing and flossing alone, and will weaken outer tooth enamel and inflame gum tissues, increasing the risk of problems like tooth decay and gingivitis. Which is why we suggest enjoying these treats in moderation, encouraging your kids to drink water with them to help cleanse the smile, and to also balance their plates with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Brushing and Flossing

Even if you’re out of town and staying with relatives, your children need to maintain their oral hygiene habits during the holiday break. Kids of all ages need to brush for at least two minutes in the morning and then do so again at night. You can assist or monitor them, or even time them with a fun song or app. Be sure they use a rice-sized bit of fluoride toothpaste too. Before bed each evening, kids also need to floss thoroughly. Older children can use tape, but kids with limited dexterity could benefit from floss pick. This removes what a toothbrush alone cannot.

Checkup and Cleaning

Now is also a great time to schedule a checkup and cleaning visit for your little one! If we discover issues like tooth decay, we can offer a visit in one visit with our lifelike dental fillings. We also clean the teeth to remove the layers of plaque and tartar that have formed. A visit now means a chance to use your 2021 dental insurance benefits before they expire. If you have any questions about our preventive visits, or if you would like to schedule one for your little one, then contact our team today.

Talk To Your Round Rock, TX Pediatric Dentist About Avoiding Cavities

At Pediatric Dentistry Of Round Rock, we’re ready to help your children enjoy a reduced risk of tooth decay. If you want to learn more about helping your children maintain a good holiday smile care, then please contact your Round Rock, TX, pediatric dentist, Dr. Thames, by calling 512-733-5311.