With all the chocolate bunnies and sugary treats associated with Easter, you may be surprised to know that your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Sands, doesn’t shun the Easter Bunny.
It’s true that foods high in sugar are likely to make infection-causing plaque build up in the mouth, but teaching kids how to properly brush teeth and eat sweets in moderation can help prevent it. Here are a few other sweet alternatives that will help your kids – and you – maintain a beautiful smile during the sugar-filled Easter season.
Easter Eggs Filled with Toys
Moderation is key. The more sweets they overload on, the more plaque that will develop. Monitor your child’s candy-eating habits by giving them toys instead of candy and by filling their plastic eggs with coins or small prizes. If a candy-filled egg is all that motivates them for the hunt, be sure to hide just a few eggs and make the candy inside an extra special treat. You can also nix the traditional egg hunt and replace it with a scavenger hunt. Fill each egg with a clue that will lead to the hiding place of the next egg, ultimately leading to one big prize at the end.
Creative, Healthy Treats
Instead of a giant chocolate bunny for a treat, make healthy food fun by constructing an Easter Bunny fruit salad. You could use a pineapple for the head, bananas for the ears and toothpicks for the whiskers. Basically anything that can be made visually interesting or that can be turned into a game can become a much more healthy tradition the kids will enjoy.
Sugarless Candy
Another way to beat sugar is to use sugarless gum or sugar-free candies for treats. This option is better for kids who enjoy the excitement of the hunt more than the candy, as I’m sure we can all agree that real sugar is the tastier option.
A Lesson in Oral Care
You can perpetuate the cause for clean teeth even further by adding a new toothbrush and some toothpaste to their Easter gift basket and, of course, by encouraging them to thoroughly brush their teeth after they enjoy their candy. Brushing teeth soon after the hunt can prevent kids from over-indulging since they will have a fresh, clean mouth.
Last but not least, remember to visit your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist regularly. Dr. Sands can help detect any problems sugary candy may cause you or your little ones.
From the dental office of Dr. Sands, we hope these tips give you a happy and fun-filled Easter celebration, filled with bright and healthy smiles!