Easter Candy and Oral Health

Growing up with a Mom who worked in the dental field, I learned a lot about dental health and why it's so important! Now, having a child of my own, I can appreciate all that my parents taught us about taking care of our teeth each and every day. This comes to mind as Easter quickly approaches. Did you know that it is one of the top-selling candy holidays celebrated?! It's actually second to Halloween! This really didn't come as a big surprise to me knowing that many children receive baskets and eggs full of candy, but I thought this year it may take a back seat with the economy the way it is and people not wanting to spend on it. That is not the case! In fact, I read that the National Retail Federation has said consumers are expected to spend more than $2 billion on candy this year!! WOW!

Dental health is very important, and with the unavoidable sugary treats many of us give our children each year for holidays like Easter, it concerns many of us that their oral health may be at risk. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease...even more so than asthma and hay fever! I'd say with those facts, parents have a right to be concerened, wouldn't you?!!

Easter is right around the corner, and now more than ever it's important that all parents make sure that the right steps are being taken to ensure good oral health for their children! Oral-B Stages feels very strongly about this and has actually posted a video about the importance of dental health. It was taken at an even in New York at a fun and kid friendly venue, and features some helpful information from Dr. Laura Jana, M.D. She is an author and founder of Practical Parenting Consulting, LLC and a mother of three. She can relate to having children and wants to help those of us who are also parents, do what's best for our children when it comes to dental health.

The following are some easy to remember tips that Oral-B has put together to help make brushing fun...some of which I've already begun to use with my daughter and have had much success!

-Brush your teeth with your child to set a good example. This also helps your child to learn by watching and imitating you.
-Choose toothbrushes and toothpaste with popular kids’ characters, like Oral-B Stages, to help establish positive oral care routines with familiar friends like Winnie the Pooh or Disney Princesses.
-Sing your child’s favorite song, such as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” for two minutes to encourage brushing for the dentist-recommended time. For older children, play a song from their favorite pop singer for two minutes.
-Making your child’s brushing routine fun will encourage proper habits early and help prevent oral care issues later in life.

For more information on oral health you can visit, www.oralb.com/kidscare.