The holidays have several guarantees: food, family, and candy. Easter especially offers tons of the sweet stuff, and kids may lose count of all the marshmallows and chocolate bunnies they gather. With candy, however, comes the nemesis of kids (and parents) everywhere: cavities. Here are several tips on how to keep kids’ teeth clean—even with baskets full of candy.
Brush After All Sweets
When brushing teeth, remember that it’s the length of time, not the amount of pressure, that counts. The proper length of teeth brushing, twice a day, is two full minutes. Set a timer or play two minutes of a catchy song to make sure kids brush their teeth the entire time!
End With Flossing
After a long day of snacking on candy, it’s well worth the extra step! If kids don’t enjoy flossing, consider a WaterPik or other water flosser as an alternative. There are even gadgets that help floss between braces brackets.
Holidays can be an exciting time for kids, with people traveling, lots of family meals, and perhaps more time to goof around than they’re used to. But that fun shouldn’t come at the expense of their oral health! When you make oral hygiene a routine, kids are more likely to follow what they know even with an unfamiliar place or schedule. Model by example and show your children that brushing and flossing can be done routinely. Consider attaching oral hygiene to another daily task, like just after waking up or after meals, or set times each day that are reserved for brushing and flossing.
Post-Easter celebrations doesn’t have to mean extra dentist visits. Show your kids how to stay on top of their oral hygiene, and they can have their chocolate bunnies and eat them, too!