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\nIt doesn\u2019t feel like the holidays until the stockings are hung up on the mantle, but many of the most common stocking stuffers are candies that can do serious damage to your children\u2019s oral health. This year, it\u2019s time to break the mold and fill your kids\u2019 stockings with things that\u2019ll make their teeth better! Here are a few ideas for some tooth-healthy stocking stuffers.
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\nElectric Toothbrush
\nBrushing is one of the most important things your child can do to prevent oral health problems. If you have younger kids, getting them to form a brushing habit and commit to it can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are electric toothbrushes that can make your kids actually want to brush! Many electric toothbrushes will play music to encourage brushing for the full two minutes. There are even brushes that can hook up to apps that turn brushing into a game!
\nDark Chocolate
\nMany of the candies that are most popular during the holidays are packed with sticky sugars that contribute to gum disease and tooth decay. While they\u2019re far from sugar-free, chocolates tend to be a better pick for your child\u2019s oral health than candy canes and caramel. Chocolate is melty, so instead of hanging onto your kids\u2019 teeth, it\u2019ll be washed away quickly when they\u2019re done eating. If your child can handle bitter food, dark chocolate also tends to have less sugar than other candies.
\nSugar-free Xylitol Gum
\nWhile most sweets can compromise your child\u2019s oral health, xylitol gum can actually improve the mouth\u2019s cleaning process by stimulating the salivary glands. That saliva will carry other food particles out of the mouth, so they don\u2019t stick around and feed the bacteria that live there. Xylitol gum comes in a wide variety of flavors and fits perfectly in your child\u2019s stocking, so it\u2019s a great substitute for some of the more dangerous candies that would normally pop up during the holidays.
\nWhile it might require a little bit more thought than just grabbing whatever candy\u2019s nearby, you can get stocking stuffers that won\u2019t be damaging to your child\u2019s oral health. With this guide, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy the holidays without worrying about cavities come January.
\nAbout Our Practice
\nAt Windemere Dentistry, we want to offer you dental care that\u2019s a step above the rest. Unlike many dental offices, we\u2019ll take the time to understand your needs and to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Our expert dentists have outfitted our office with cutting-edge dental technology, which allows us to provide our patients with the highest quality care that dentistry has to offer. If you have any questions about how you can take care of your family\u2019s teeth over the holiday season, we can be reached at our website, or by phone at (407) 909-1099.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"