Fun Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Oral Health

The holidays are full of happiness and warmth. Family, fun, and food all come together to make the season. With so much to do to get ready for the holidays your Dentists of Whittier team has put together this list of great gifts you can easily slide into a stocking that will not only make your family smile, but also keep that smile healthy and strong!

Stockings are a great place to give a few items you know your family members need, but they may not choose to buy for themselves. So, this year you can avoid filling up stockings with sticky candies and sugary chocolates and instead opt for something that is actually healthy for teeth.

Stuff Your Christmas Stockings with Toothbrushes

There are so many kinds of toothbrushes on the market now that it’s easy to find one that’s perfect for each personality in your family.

Give the Gift of Fun Manual Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes are a perfect small gift to stick in a stocking. It serves as a good reminder to brush teeth after all the holiday treats and beyond. For younger brushers you can find toothbrushes with timers to help develop good brushing habits. Some toothbrushes will sing songs while others light up to time how long your child should be brushing. Or you can opt for a favorite character or theme to get kids interested in brushing.

Spoil Your Family with Electric Toothbrushes this Holiday Season

For the older brusher in your family, you might consider an electric toothbrush. These are especially effective in teen and young adult brushers who may need a little extra help to brush well around their busy schedules. Electric brushes are available in many styles, sizes, and price ranges. Remember to look for a toothbrush with a charging station or to include some batteries in the stocking too so brushing can begin right away.

Don’t Forget Floss in Your Holiday Stockings

No one really wants to hear it, but we all know how important flossing is. Getting those little particles of food left behind between teeth is essential to preventing cavities and tooth decay. To encourage flossing in your home consider sticking a box of floss inside a stocking.

To make it more interesting try a box of fun flavored floss. No longer just unflavored or mint, floss now comes in delicious varieties like pineapple, coconut, or birthday cake.

If your child finds flossing difficult you may want to try floss picks. Dental floss is attached between two posts on a stick to help get to those hard in-between places, especially in little mouths. If you are worried about waste, be sure to pick up a set of compostable floss picks.

To make this the gift that keeps on giving, consider a floss subscription box. There are a few online companies that offer gourmet floss subscriptions services that deliver your choice of floss directly to your door!

Go Big on Flavor for Toothpaste this Holiday Season

Toothpaste and a toothbrush are the two toothbrushing tools you use most. Why not make them a little more exciting? Toothpaste has traditionally been minty flavored to leave a fresh feeling in your mouth. But if you know a brusher who is tired of the same old flavor, or who isn’t particularly fond of mint in the first place try giving them a fun new toothpaste flavor they have never tried before.

Toothpaste is now available in many flavors to suit any taste. Consider trying cinnamon for a fresh and warm feeling, or lemon for a bright and refreshing taste. If you’re looking for something a little less traditional try lemon-lavender, coconut, or orange.

For the more adventurous there are lots of wacky options to choose from. If you’ve got a meat lover in the house, why not give them a chance to try bacon flavored toothpaste? If that’s a bit too daring maybe try chocolate, chili, or strawberry banana.

Fun flavored toothpaste is a perfect gift to inspire kids to brush more often too. Kids often find mint flavored toothpaste to be too strong so choosing a toothpaste flavor they enjoy can help take the fight out of brushing teeth. Popular flavors for kids include strawberry, grape and watermelon, but you can also try bubble gum or even blueberry. Better yet, put a few flavor choices into the stocking and give your child a choice of which fun flavor to choose every time they brush.

Mouthguards

If you’ve got an athlete in the family, consider a mouthguard in their stocking. Mouthguards are the number one way to prevent oral related injuries during sports and recreational activities and are an absolute must for school and organized sports. Mouthguards are available at most pharmacies or sporting goods stores and come in a variety of styles, colors and prices. You can choose from stock mouthguards that are ready to use, boil-and-bite that molds to teeth through an at-home process, or a custom fitted mouthguard from your Dentists of Whittier team.

If you’re looking for more stocking stuffer ideas that are good for teeth make sure to stay away from sugary candy and treats. Candy or gum made with xylitol is healthy for teeth and tastes good too. Oranges or other fruit are sweet treats that are healthy and fun to eat. For a new baby you can pick up a baby toothbrush and training toothpaste or teething toy. Or consider a dental office gift certificate. Encourage your loved ones who may not visit the dentist as often as they need to by removing the obstacle of cost so they can get the dental care they need.

Your Dentists of Whittier team wants you to have a happy healthy holiday. Make sure you keep up with your regularly scheduled dental visits even during the holiday rush by calling our office at (562) 414-5025 to schedule an appointment.