five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright

Kids and candy, huh? Dentist bills and alot of dollars, huh? Yeah, I know where is this going. Do you have problems with your kids and their teeth? I use to. My son had a $2000 problem in his mouth because mommy dearest allowed it all but now i have learned.

Five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright-

1) Sugar allowance. I make koolaid at home so I know how much koolaid is being added to my son's diet. I don't allow him to add too much sugar to his koolaid or water. If you start now, they will never know the difference, and by the time they do they will know better. Our neighbor made koolaid with no sugar, it was nasty. But her kids has zero cavities.

2) Limit sodas or sugary drinks. My son is only allow 1 per day with a meal. SO he can't just go tothe fridge and grab a soda. He has to save it for his meal, most of the time he just grabs water.

3) Water. Water is good for hydrating the body. Alot of kids dont know why water is important. We keep water at home in a filtered pitcher in the fridge. When we go places we take water bottles. And us as parents, make a habit of drinking water to set an example for our kids.

4) Limit sweets and candy. We do not purchase candy when we are checking out at the store. Nor do we grab sweets at the movies. When my son goes to a party and they are given candy he is allow to get some candy and put the rest up. Most of the time he forgets all about it. At Halloween, we go trick or treating, he gets a handful for him, and the rest we give away.

5) Education. Teach your kids about their teeth. I buy my son the rinse that makes his teeth blue. He has to brush his teeth to remove all the blue gunk. Find a fun dentist. My son has always been scared of the dentist. But now he is not. He goes on his yearly visits, and does great. Kids listen to parents even if you think they are not listening. My son brushes his teeth before he goes to tell us goodnite. And in the mornings, i get a big kiss from him so i know he has brush with his cool mint breath.

Here are some healthy facts:

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.

“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.
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