Stocking Stuffer Ideas That Are Dentist-Approved!

Now that your stomach has, hopefully, finally settled from your Thanksgiving meal, it is time for you to rest and prepare for the new year, right? Of course, we all know that this is a lie. Once November ends it is time to buckle down and start getting ready for Christmas. Especially for parents like you, this is a pretty chaotic time of the year. You have to make sure that your house is decorated, the tree is up, lights are hung. But that’s not the end, or even the most stressful. As we all know, Christmas shopping must be done! Dealing with the crowds and finding the perfect gifts for your little one(s) isn’t the easiest thing to do. But your pediatric dentist’s office here in Thornton wants to help!

No, we are not going to be able to do your shopping for you or shovel your driveway for you (sorry), but what we can do is give you a few stocking stuffers that are dentist-approved! We know what you are thinking, that your child won’t be thrilled to pull dental floss out of their stocking, but we have some great ideas to mix in with their other small gifts that they will not only be excited to get but will also give you the peace of mind that they will be taking even better care of their teeth during the new year. It’s a win-win! But don’t forget the most important part of their dental health — visiting their local dentist.

If you have never been to Thornton Kids Dentistry, then you and your child are in for a sugar-free treat. We decided that visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be scary for kids, it can actually be a fun adventure! Our entire office is designed to help our little patients feel comfortable. From TVs above the chairs to a friendly staff to a pirate ship playhouse (yes, you read that right), your child might want to stay even after they’ve seen the dentist. If you need to make an appointment at our dental clinic, then please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

A New Toothbrush

We are not talking about purchasing them a generic, run-of-the-mill toothbrush that lacks color or a theme. A child will certainly be disappointed pulling this out of the stocking. No, we are talking about a fun, colorful, and themed toothbrush! These days, there is an abundance of toothbrushes made for children that will make brushing their teeth in the morning and before bed an enjoyable time for them, and ensure that they follow their routine. From superheroes to princesses, cartoon characters to dinosaurs, you are sure to find a brush that fits their interests. Some toothbrushes even play songs and have a timer on them so that they know that they’ve brushed for the right amount of time to keep their pearly whites sparkly and clean.

Great Flavored Toothpaste

Back in the day, basically the only flavor you could find was mint, and if you were lucky, cinnamon. But kids these days have a plethora of options to choose from. Some so good that it’s like the kids will think that they are brushing their teeth with candy! This will make it so much easier to convince them to go brush, just remind them to spit it out! Some of the flavors available these days include bubblegum, strawberry, pineapple, and even watermelon. A lot of them come in themes from their favorite movies or cartoon characters! Just make sure that you are getting a brand that has the ADA seal on it to make sure that their teeth are being taken care of.

Children’s Books

Getting your kiddo books for Christmas is always a great idea. Not only will they be able to immerse themselves in the story, but they will also be working on their reading and language skills which is always a great thing! The great news is that there are a good amount of children’s books out there that specifically talk about dental health! With cute pictures and fun stories, these books will help them understand the importance of taking care of their teeth and how going to their local pediatric dentist is not such a scary thing!

A Pillow For The Tooth Fairy

This is a fun one if you have a toddler that is still losing teeth regularly. Of course, every child loves putting a lost tooth under their pillow and anxiously awaiting to wake up the next day to find a little gift. Why not let the tooth fairy have a special little pillow to collect the tooth? You can get a small and decorated pillow with its own little, tiny pocket to put the tooth in and leave on the bed beside them.

Don’t let your child read the next part.

This will also help you retrieve the tooth and replace it with a gift without having to wake them up as you carefully reach underneath their pillow! Just make sure that you let them know what the pillow is as soon as they see what it is because they will probably be pretty confused as to why you bought them a tiny pillow.

Toothbrush Holder

Their cool new toothbrush obviously needs a home! Just like the variety of brushes available, there are just as many toothbrush holders out there. This will help them from getting water and toothpaste remnants around the counter, or from getting germs on their brush. No need to have them use a glass or plain-old, boring toothbrush holder. Liven it up! Most general stores or supermarkets carry a wide range, and you’ll certainly find one that your child will love!

Teeth-Friendly Treats

What kid doesn’t like to get treats? No matter the time of the year! While there will, of course, be candy canes and gingerbread cookies (and we will not discourage you from letting them have some of these snacks), there are also a few treats that they can still enjoy and that is good for their teeth as well! This includes most sugar-free candies, and surprisingly, chocolate is not horrible for their teeth. It’s not the best, but it doesn’t linger in their teeth like other classic sweets. Just make sure that they rinse, or better yet brush after they have indulged. Just make sure that you don’t leave it in the stocking for too long, or you’re going to have a mess on your hands.

We hope that this has given you a couple of ideas of some dentist-approved stocking stuffers for Christmas! If you would like even more suggestions or your child needs an appointment with our pediatric dentist in Thornton, then go ahead and give us a call!