Seguin Children’s Dentistry: Activities to Fall into Healthy Habits

Fall is a season of change, from the colors of the leaves to the crispness in the air (or, for us Texans, the hope of crisp, cool air). It’s also an excellent time to introduce themed activities for kids that can make learning about dental health both enjoyable and memorable.

This fall, Sapphire Creek Dental can help you turn dental hygiene into a fun and engaging activity. Our Seguin children’s dentistry team explores fall-themed crafts, games, and recipes that entertain and teach valuable lessons about dental health.

Pumpkin Carving with a Dental Twist

Carving jack-o’-lanterns is a beloved fall tradition, but this year, you can use it as a learning tool. While carving, you can discuss the importance of keeping our teeth clean and healthy. You can create clean, straight teeth to show the positives or carve an uneven, gappy smile to emphasize the consequences of poor oral hygiene. It’s a fun way to visually demonstrate what a healthy mouth looks like.

Scary Good Brushing

Our Seguin children’s dentistry team suggests turning brushing and flossing into interactive games to keep your child engaged and enthusiastic about their dental routine.

Tooth Brushing Chart

• Create a colorful chart with days of the week and space for stickers.
• Every time your child brushes their teeth, they can add a sticker to the chart.
• Offer a small reward at the end of the week if they have a full chart.

Flossing Fun

• Use a piece of yarn to demonstrate flossing on a toy with a big smile.
• Show your child how to gently floss between the teeth, explaining its importance.
• Turn it into a race to see who can properly floss all the toy’s teeth the fastest.

Musical Brushing

• Play your child’s favorite song while they brush their teeth.
• Encourage them to brush for the whole song to reach the recommended two minutes.
• Dance along to make it a joyful experience.

Harvesting Healthy Treats
Sweet Potato Chips

• Slice sweet potatoes thinly using a knife or mandoline slicer.
• Toss the slices with a small amount of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
• Arrange them on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes, until crispy.

Sapphire Creek Dental’s Seguin children’s dentist recommends sweet potatoes because they’re full of beta-carotene. This is what gives them their bright orange color. Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, which helps preserve teeth and salivary glands. 

Pumpkin Yogurt Parfait

• Layer Greek yogurt with pumpkin puree and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Add a layer of granola for a bit of crunch.
• Top with a few cranberries for a pop of color and flavor.

Yogurt is great because it’s full of calcium, which is essential for strong teeth. And fall-favorite pumpkin is a superfood full of Vitamin A, potassium, antioxidants, and carotenoids. 

Peanut Butter and Apple Dip

• Core and slice apples into wedges.
• In a small bowl, mix peanut butter with a little bit of honey and a dash of cinnamon.
• Use the apple wedges to scoop and enjoy the dip.

Our Seguin children’s dentistry team loves this one because apples help stimulate saliva, which helps keep the mouth clean. Plus, peanut butter and other nut consumption is linked with a decreased risk of heart disease and type-2 diabetes, according to Harvard Health. Cinnamon may fight against bacteria that cause cavities and bad breath. 

Get More Seguin Children’s Dentistry Tips

Schedule your family’s biannual cleanings and checkups to get more personalized tips and suggestions about Seguin children’s dentistry. Contact Sapphire Creek Dental today.