The holidays are nearly upon us! Here are a few holiday treat alternatives you can integrate into your seasonal festivities to protect your kids from cavities without sacrificing any of the fun! Below is a list of 6 tips on how to maximize your fun this holiday season without compromising your oral health.

1. Replace popcorn garland with colored streamers to keep spirits colorful and bright. If left undisturbed, popcorn kernels stuck between your teeth can decay and cause cavities, abscesses, and in some cases, even tooth loss! Hanging beads on a string is also a creative way to make your home stand out!
2. What holiday party is complete without some type of cheese platter? Great news, cheese doesn’t cause cavities! A recent study shows that cheese can actually prevent tooth decay.
3. Candy and chocolate are common kids’ stocking stuffers, but their high sugar content can leave them vulnerable to cavities. Some holiday treat alternatives that are sure to bring joy to any child’s face include: holiday-inspired temporary tattoos, stickers, bubbles, and noise makers.
4. Instead of building gingerbread houses from your favorite sweet treats, try making one out of common arts and crafts items such as popsicle sticks, felt, pom-poms, markers, or paint. Helpful Tip: use markers to color your popsicle sticks before gluing them together as an easy way to achieve a colorful house!
5. Candy canes are a staple ornament on any tree, but keeping them in your mouth for long periods of time or biting into them can coat your teeth in sugar and possibly crack a tooth. To capture the same candy cane magic, twist red and white pipe cleaners together and bend into the cane shape before hanging them on your tree.
6. On the peppermint theme, instead of eating the individually-wrapped peppermint hard candies, try melting them and making a peppermint bowl.

There is a huge risk of kids developing cavities during the holiday season from all the confectionary treats. So this year, protect your family and friends’ teeth with one of the treat alternatives listed above. You’re welcome to come visit us here at Tigard Family Dental for all your family’s dental needs! Happy Holidays!