As Easter approaches, so does the Easter Bunny, egg hunts and plenty of chocolate and jelly beans. Tis the season for lots of candy. It is also a risky holiday for your children's teeth. Naturally, candy is not good for them and while most parents understand this, keeping children away from it can be incredibly difficult. You cannot walk through the grocery store without seeing plenty of holiday candy and everyone from Grandma to the school will be giving them treats. This is why you need an anti-candy action plan. It may not be easy, but reducing their sugar intake will certainly help your children to stay healthier now and as they grow older. Here are our ideas for helping you to do so.
Historically, people would boil eggs and then paint or decorate them. This can be a fun activity to do with the kids as they get to select their favorite colors, add glitter, stickers, and become incredibly creative with it. Truly, this can be a fun weekend activity for you to do with them. It is important to note that the FDA finds that no one should eat a hardboiled egg that remains outside for more than two hours.
Instead of hiding candy-filled eggs, hide the ones that you decorated with your kids. They will have just as much fun finding them and their baskets will be sugar-free.
Since you will not be hiding candy, make one or two of your eggs special. If your child finds them, give a prize that is not related to sweets. Perhaps you can give them a new book or a small toy that they have been wanting. As a kids dentist, we know that prizes are something kids of all ages get excited about.
If you do not want your child to go completely without candy, buy the sugar-free variety. They can taste great and help to make your child feel included without actually harming their teeth or the rest of their body.
If you take your child to an egg hunt in town or at church, you can always incentivize them to give up their candy. If they have been wanting something, trade them for the candy. If they want to have a sleepover or get to stay up late, trade them for the candy. It is actually fairly easy to find something that your children like more than candy. It only seems that they love it the most because of how exciting it is to find the candy in the first place.
As a kids dentist in Scottsdale, we encourage you to try some of these tips so that you can help your child to avoid eating too much sugar. This is important for the health of their teeth since candy can lead to cavities. It is also important for their health overall. Eating too much sugar can weaken their immune system and increase their risk of developing diabetes. Learning healthy habits now can set your children up for a lifetime of good health overall.
Dental visits do not need to be a negative experience for the child. Visit our kid friendly dentist for a healthy experience.A kid friendly dentist can provide dental care for younger patients to help instill a positive experience with visiting the dentist. The first visit to a dentist can be intimidating for your child, let…
Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health issues experienced by children. A pediatric dentist can help your child develop a proper oral hygiene routine that may prevent serious consequences, such as problems with speaking, eating, learning, and playing.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of children have a decayed…
Should children be seeing a family dentist or a pediatric dentist? While many adults and teenagers see a general or family dentist for all dental concerns, is that the best choice for children? This decision is a dilemma that many parents face as young children begin to develop baby teeth. While for some parents the…
You want to take care of all your child’s health needs, and this includes finding the right pediatric dentist. While some general dentists also treat children, a dentist with a specialty in pediatrics is trained to provide child-focused care. It is worth your time to learn the difference between the two when picking a dental practice…
Various factors affect tooth color, including genetics, food and beverage choices, smoking, and medications. Stains can occur on the surface of the tooth or beneath the enamel. Surface stains are common, but stains can also occur due to changes within the tooth's material. Extrinsic stains are stains on the surface of the tooth, while intrinsic…
Sedation dentistry is another name for sleep dentistry. It helps keep you calm during dental procedures. Sedation dentistry can relax you as your dentist works on your gums and teeth. If you want to know more about sleep dentistry, here are some FAQs and the answers for each.Twilight sedation and conscious sedation are other terms…