Navigating Holiday Sweets: How to Protect Your Child’s Teeth

The holiday season comes with a lot of hallmarks. No matter your tradition, though, your celebrations probably involve a fair amount of sweet treats. From the gelt of Hanukkah to the sweet potato pie of Kwanzaa to the cookies of Christmas, sugar abounds. 

 Irene Zaki, DDS, and our Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry team want to help your family enjoy the season without encountering oral health issues afterward. With that in mind, we offer these suggestions for parents. Use them to navigate holiday sweets. 

And after this sugary time of year is over, consider scheduling a dental cleaning and exam at our office in Riverside, California. 

Start with the basics

First things first, brushing and flossing get extra important during this time of year. We know it’s a busy season, but make it a priority to stay on top of your child’s oral health habits. With so much sugar on offer this December, skimping now can lead to cavities or gum disease come 2026.  

Implement defense beyond the toothbrush

In an ideal world, your child would brush their teeth shortly after eating sugar. We know that’s not necessarily always feasible, though. Fortunately, you can take other steps to minimize the negative effects of sugar.

First, time it strategically. Eating sweets after a meal helps to protect their teeth. When we eat, the body produces more saliva. That saliva has cavity-fighting powers, helping to wash sugar away from teeth while actively defending against decay. 

Then, after your child finishes the sweet treat, encourage them to drink some water. This further helps to rinse sugar from the surfaces of their teeth. It also dilutes acid to protect their teeth. 

Model the way

Your kids watch what you do. Set a good example around oral health, and it should make it easier to encourage healthy habits in your entire family. 

Eating lots of healthy foods through the holiday season helps to teach them balance. You might go out of your way to show them when you’re brushing and flossing, too. In fact, it can help to make basic daily oral hygiene something you all do together. 

Stay on top of their dentist appointments

December might be too busy to squeeze in a trip to the dentist. But if it’s been more than six months since your child last had a professional cleaning, get that scheduled for early January. 

As they eat sugar throughout this holiday season, it feeds plaque on their teeth. If they don’t clear that plaque away, it has the chance to harden into tartar. You can’t remove tartar at home, but we can get it off with specialized dental tools. Regular tartar removal helps to defend against cavities and gum disease. 

To schedule your child’s teeth cleaning for the new year, call our team at Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry or book it online today.