I am a total sweetaholic – from candy to cereal, I used to always have lots of goodies in the cabinets. Now that I have toddlers though who are very good at climbing onto the cabinets I have stopped purchasing so many sweets and started encouraging healthier eating. I have not given up sweets and sugar all together, but I have definitely cut down to become a better role model for my boys. I know they want to do (and eat) whatever I do, so I figure I better cut back on sugary treats and start encouraging healthy mouth habits.
Twittermoms has teamed up with Trident to ask five simple things you can do for your child to keep their smiles healthy and bright, so here are my tips!
- No juice after lunch – they get juice for breakfast and sometimes snack time but I try to cut back on juice consumption. I know if they drink juice at dinnertime or later, it is more likely to sit in their mouths (especially since they are not very good brushers yet.)
- No sticky fruit snacks – I buy only the Welch’s or natural fruit snacks that are not sticky where they will get stuck in my boys teeth. I have tried buying off-brand fruit snacks before and they are so gooey and sticky that even I have trouble brushing it off with my toothbrush, let alone my sons brushes it off with their soft brushes.
- Brush – We brush as a family at bedtime so the kids can watch and learn from us. By brushing together, my sons can see the right way to brush and they brush for the two minutes that is suggested.
- Candy – I limit it to a few pieces a week as a treat and they have to brush afterwards. This is a hard one for me because I love candy, so I do allow a few pieces of candy since it really is a treat to eat. I also started looking for more sugar free candies that my sons would like. I also think when they are old enough I will let them chew on sugar-free gum like Trident since it is one of the few good sugar free gums out there!
- Visit the dentist – We will be going for Aidan’s first checkup at the first of the year and I will be taking him regularly after that! I have visited the dentist twice a year for as long as I can remember and I think it is especially important to monitor your teeth so nothing gets worse.
Here are some thoughts from Trident and Twittermoms to keep in mind:
Some thought starters to get you going…
- Chewing Trident sugar free gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help fight cavities.
- Xylitol, a sugar free sweetener in Trident, has been shown to loosen plaque.
- Trident is available in 11 great flavors so kids have lots to choose from!
- Brush: Remind children to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time, using no more than a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- Eat: Nutritious foods are an important part of keeping children’s smiles healthy and their teeth strong.
- Floss: Have children gently floss once a day to remove food that can get stuck between their teeth and sticky plaque that forms on their teeth. Brushing alone cannot reach all of the surfaces on a tooth.
- Avoid: Try to avoid overindulging in sticky and sugary foods. When kids do have a special treat, make sure they brush and floss afterwards.
- Routine: Remember to get regular dental check-ups. Have them visit a dentist twice a year to make sure that they are taking good care of their teeth and gums.
Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.