February is Children’s Dental Health Month!  It’s the perfect time to focus on the oral health of our kiddos.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Medical Association both agree that it is important to establish a Dental Home for your child by age 1.  This Dental Home concept allows children to feel calm and safe at the dentist’s office and establish oral health routines that can last throughout their lives.

At MPDC we strive to make dental visits fun and educational for the entire family.  We aim to get everyone involved and to change the stigma of dentistry from scary to merry.  With Valentine’s Day a few days away, our “Sweet Tooth Challenge” is almost over! The kids with their parents were able to post a picture, tag the office, and guess how many Hershey’s Kisses we have on display! Our Grand Prize is a $50 gift card to Target! The winner will be announced LIVE on 2/14 on Facebook and Instagram. The challenge really got our Growing Smiles Club kids involved and is a great way to start the discussion about the effects that candy has on their teeth!

Why Have a Hershey’s Kisses Challenge?

Valentine’s Day is a holiday known for its  delicious candies, chocolates, and hopefully a bouquet or two (#TreatYourself.)  While no candy is good for your teeth, here are some basic do’s and don’ts to remember.  The worst candies for your teeth are those sticky ooey-goey ones.  Next, are those highly acidic sour candies and of course gummy’s.  Lastly, lollipops because the longer our mouths are below a neutral pH, the higher the risk of developing cavities.  Some of the best candies for a sweet treat are those rich in calcium like chocolate, especially dark chocolate, which also has antioxidants.  Also sugar-free hard candy or chewing gums because they can actually help stimulate saliva production which helps keep our mouths at a healthy pH. This is why Dr. Manso believes that a Hershey kiss is the perfect “sometimes”  sweet treat for her Growing Smiles Club kids and the portion size is perfect to0.

So this Valentine’s Day try a smaller sweet treat to enjoy with your little sweethearts. XOXO,

Dr. Manso