As a parent, you may be wondering if your child’s teeth are ever going to get a break as we jump from one sugar-filled holiday to the next. These sugar-free Easter basket alternatives will help to keep your children’s spirits high while keeping their sugar levels low.
Here are a few tips on how to build a tooth-friendly Easter basket for your kids.
Fill Your Baskets With Non-Food Alternatives
Art Supplies
Items like crayons, Playdoh, paint, paintbrushes, and colorful construction paper all make for great Easter basket additions. Not only do art supplies give children a chance to be creative, but it will also keep them busy for an hour or two.
Toys
Celebrate spring in Hinsdale by getting the kids outside this Easter. Load up Easter baskets with things like chalk, squirt guns, and yard games. Not only will these activities keep their teeth healthy but it will build creativity and sharpen fine motor skills all in one.
Stuffed Animals
Swap out the chocolate bunny for a stuffed one. Stuffed chicks or rabbits make the perfect addition to a little one’s Easter basket, and they won’t lead to any cavities.
Swap Sugar For Healthier Alternatives
Reduce the amount of candy by mixing in healthier alternatives in addition to your sweet treats. Items like graham crackers, cheddar bunnies, applesauce pouches, and other sugar-free treats are sure to be just as much of a hit as the sugar-filled snacks.
Our favorite candy alternatives include:
- sugar-free gum
- Graham cracker bites
- Cheddar bunnies
- Pretzels
- Cereal
- Trail mix
- Almonds
- Dried fruit
- DIY Fruit Snacks
Choosing Candy Wisely
If you are going to decide to include candy in your Easter eggs and inside your Easter baskets, make sure to choose your candy wisely. Opt for sweet treats that melt away quickly and don’t stick to the teeth. Chocolate is one of the best treats for your teeth because it is quickly washed away by water and saliva.
The worst easter candies for your teeth are:
- Jelly beans
- Marshmallow Peeps
- Lollipops
- Hard candies
- Gummy candies
- Caramels
- Cream-filled chocolate eggs
- Anything sticky
Follow These Tooth Care Tips
While filling your shopping basket with delicious treats for everyone, take a trip down the dental hygiene aisle of your local one-stop shop. Taking excellent care of your oral health begins with the basics, so add new toothbrushes, toothpaste and fluoride rinse into your baskets too.
Brush
It may seem obvious, but brushing your teeth twice a day is one of the vital steps in protecting your teeth against tooth decay and gum disease. Cleaning the daily plaque buildup off of the surfaces of your teeth also removes harmful bacteria from your teeth and gums. After you eat something sweet, wait 15-30 minutes before brushing to avoid causing more harm than good.
Floss
Brushing on its own isn’t enough to keep your teeth and gums clean. Tooth decay and gum disease typically begin between and below the gum line. Flossing is the best and only way to address these problem areas and keep your gums clean.
Hydrate
One of the best and easiest ways to prevent cavities is by drinking water with Fluoride. By drinking water, you are helping your body eliminate left-behind food particles and keeping your teeth strong by washing them with calcium phosphate and fluoride. Drinking water is one of the most accessible and most beneficial things you can do to help reduce your risk of tooth decay.
Schedule Regular Dental Check-ups
When it comes to consuming sweets, moderation is key. Finding healthy alternatives to sugar-filled Easter treats is a great way to do your part in keeping your family’s teeth healthy. Add a dental cleaning and exam appointment card with Hinsdale Dentistry into each Easter basket to ensure everyone has a healthy smile.
We look forward to hearing all about your spring celebrations at your next appointment!