With Christmas coming up, it’s easy to forget some of your stricter rules and let your little ones indulge in candy over this festive period, but it’s important to make sure they are looking after their teeth, even with a few treats here and there. You can still enjoy the holidays and follow a few cavity-prevention tips.

Maintain a routine
Christmas time may mean that routines go out of the window. Kids may be staying up later, sleeping in longer, having friends over, and disrupting their general school habits. No matter what they are doing in their normal everyday life, it’s still important – and easy – to maintain their dental hygiene routine. Brushing first thing in the morning and last thing at night is an essential habit to get them used to, integrating it into their daily life so it’s not seen as a chore, but just a regular activity. It’s may also be good idea to add another tooth brushing during the day if they’re indulging on lots of candy.

Keep up the greens
If they’re eating extra unhealthy snacks during the holiday time, that doesn’t mean they should skimp on the veggies. As long as the sugary snacks are within moderation and everything else is included in their diet, like veggies and protein, their teeth will continue to grow in a healthy, normal way. Keep up the greens to promote healthy teeth, body, and diet, and maybe balance out a little of the chocolate and sweet treats.

Limit sugary snacks
Don’t overindulge in sugary snacks or drinks too much – they should still be a treat, but not an expectation. Fizzy drinks, fruit juices, chocolate, and candy all contain high amounts of sugar that can erode enamel on teeth and cause cavities. It’s a good idea to encourage a quick tooth brushing or at least a mouth rinse with water or alcohol-free mouthwash after a sugary snacking session, to wash away any lingering sugar that may hang around in their mouths.

See your dentist regularly
All of these tips should be enough to encourage a healthy smile and prevent cavities, but you can’t watch your little ones 24/7, so keep up with regular check-ups at the dentist. Your dentist will be able to see any telltale signs of cavities or good habits, and give advice on any potential orthodontic treatment such as braces.

Begin orthodontic treatment early
At iSmile Orthodontics, we recommend children start their orthodontics check-ups from the age of 7. This ensures that we can keep an eye on your child’s teeth and their development, and recommend orthodontic treatment that will help them grow into a healthy smile and even prevent future unnecessary treatment into adolescence and adulthood. Making sure that teeth are growing evenly can make it easier for them to brush and floss, so that plaque and enamel doesn’t build up to cause cavities.

Get in touch here to find out more about orthodontics for children and schedule your first appointment.