Cavity-free Christmas: panettone, nougat and the Smile Advent calendar
The holidays are sweet, but little teeth can reach January healthy and happy. Dr. Giorgia's tips for feasts, gifts and holidays at grandma's — plus an Advent calendar to open together.
Why cavities 'celebrate' at Christmas
Three things change over the holidays: more sweets, more often (the tray of chocolates is always within reach) and the routine slips, especially in the evening after big dinners. Every time something sugary touches the teeth, bacteria produce acids for 20-30 minutes: the problem isn't the slice of panettone, it's nibbling all day long.
The good news: a few clear rules, agreed with the kids, are enough to enjoy the holidays without tricks on the enamel.
Holiday sweets: passed and failed
Limit: nougat (the soft kind sticks to molars, the hard kind can chip a tooth), candies and candy canes, candied fruit and fizzy drinks sipped throughout the meal.
More tolerable: a slice of panettone or pandoro after the meal (they dissolve quickly), dark chocolate, plain nuts, mandarins and the cheeses from the feast, which even help remineralise enamel.
The golden rule: sweets are eaten in a single moment, right after the meal, followed by a glass of water. Never in bed, never 'one now and then' all afternoon.
At grandma's, travelling, at friends' houses
Holidays move children from house to house: pack a holiday backpack with a travel toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and floss. The evening brush is never skipped, not even on Christmas Eve: it's the most important of the year.
A trick that works: the new toothbrush with their favourite character 'arrives' with the presents and is inaugurated that same evening.
Tooth-friendly gifts
Under the tree (or in the Epiphany stocking) you can also put gifts that turn oral hygiene into a game: a kids' electric toothbrush with timer and music, a two-minute hourglass, an illustrated book about the dentist or a little dentist kit to play doctor with big toy teeth.
The Smile Advent calendar
On our Christmas special page you'll find an interactive Advent calendar: from December 1st to 24th, each door hides a small daily mission to do together (counting teeth in the mirror, the two-minute song, a toothbrush for Santa...). Opening one door a day is the sweetest way to build a habit that lasts all year.
And the best gift? A check-up with Dr. Giorgia in January, to make sure no nougat is left between the molars. Call us at 051 814000. Happy holidays from the whole Smile Club Kids team!
Open the Smile Advent calendar →Questions about your child's teeth?
Call us: the first visit is a game, fear-free and no strings attached.
