With the holidays in full swing we thought we’d compile our list of the top gifts you can give to your kids that will help encourage good oral health all year long.

1. A New Toothbrush – of course this might seem like an obvious choice, but with the wide variety of fun colors and patterns out there it can be a great way to encourage kids to be excited about their nightly routine.

2. Flavored Toothpaste and Floss – if you have trouble motivating your younger family members, or maybe even your older family members, to floss and brush then invest in some fun flavors. Maybe just the idea of trying something new will make the conversation about twice daily brushing less of a fight.

3. Sugar-free Gum – it seems like candy is available in mass quantities during the last quarter of the year. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the plethora of year end celebrations candy jars appear everywhere. Try offering up gum as an alternative. Gum not only encourages saliva production but it might combat the tendency to grab at the sugary stuff.

4. Brightly color toothbrush case – great for traveling or for sleepovers at Grandma’s house, help make sure the new toothbrush they get stays clean in transit. The fun colors are a sure way to make sure it doesn’t get lost too.

5. A Tooth Timer – if you’ve got trouble getting your kids to brush for the right amount of time, try to find a fun time they can use for each brushing session. This will help them keep track and you’ll have peace of mind knowing they’re learning great dental habits.

6. Electric Toothbrush – if there’s someone in your family that can use some extra help in the dental department, investing in a good quality electric toothbrush could be a great option. There are lots of great ones on the market and they can help those who don’t get the right clean from a regular brush. These electric toothbrushes could also be a fun option for your kids to make sure they get clean teeth.

7. Xylitol Products – can’t get your kids to avoid the sugar options. Xylitol is a great alternative to sugar for kids and now it’s available in a range of products from candy, to gum, mints, and it’s even available in some toothpastes.