7 Teeth-Friendly Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers

You’ve just finished wrapping the last of your child’s gifts and setting them under the tree. You’ve bought milk and made cookies to lay out for Santa Claus. Still, you have the strange feeling that you’ve forgotten something. You look at the fireplace and realize you forgot to buy stocking stuffers! Luckily, a pediatric dentist in Birmingham is here with seven ideas for stocking stuffers that are also healthy for your child’s teeth.

1. A New Toothbrush

Getting a new toothbrush is always exciting, and it can get your child pumped to brush their teeth. Buy a toothbrush that’s their favorite color or has their favorite cartoon character on it. In addition, you could get a toothbrush that lights up or plays music to make cleaning their teeth that much more fun.

2. Chewing Gum Sweetened with Xylitol

Kids love getting sweet treats in their stockings, and chewing gum is no exception. Just make sure the gum you get your son or daughter uses xylitol instead of sugar to get its sweet taste. Xylitol is a sweetener that has may actually help strengthen your child’s teeth in the fight against cavities.

3. Tooth Fairy Box or Bag

Are any of your child’s teeth loose? Gift them with a box or bag that’s just big enough to fit a tooth and slip under their pillow. This should make them look forward to the tooth fairy’s next visit!

4. Flavored Floss

As soon as your little one has two teeth that touch, you should be using dental floss to clean between them. There are all kinds of interesting flavors of floss to try, like strawberry, grape, and even bacon. Picking out your child’s favorite flavor should get them more excited about flossing.

5. Sports Mouthguard

A mouthguard is a tray worn over the teeth during physical activity to prevent injury from impact. You can get them from a lot of pharmacies and pretty much any sporting goods store. Even if your child already has one, getting one with a new color or design is always fun. They will be more in the habit of protecting their precious smile by wearing their mouthguard during sports games and practices.

6. Fun Toothbrush Holder

There are all sorts of silly toothbrush holders out there. Find one with your child’s favorite animal or cartoon character on it. This should make them look forward to brushing their teeth a little bit more.

7. Small Fruits

Fruits provide that sweet taste that kids crave, without the crazy amount of sugar that candy does. Additionally, many fruits, like oranges and lemons, have been shown to help fight gum disease. In fact, clementines used to be a popular fruit to put in children’s stockings.

About the Author

Dr. Angelica Rohner is a pediatric dentist in Birmingham who graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry after realizing her passion for helping children. She is also Board-Certified in Pediatric Dentistry and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. To get your child the gift of cleaner teeth this holiday season, click here to visit her website and schedule a cleaning for your little one.