*This is a collaborative post
Every parent should be worried about their child’s dental hygiene, but if you’re someone who loves to bake and create the sweet treats, you might have even greater concerns. As much as you love being in the kitchen, treating your kids to cakes, sweets, and everything else could increase the risk of tooth decay, and this comes with a wide range of other issues that might affect their health. So, how can you take care of your child’s teeth and still allow them to enjoy sweet treats?
Look For Sugar Alternatives
Sugar is a crucial ingredient in almost every recipe you’ll come across, but too much sugar exposure is never good for your teeth no matter how old you are. If you’ve ever tried ditching sugar altogether in a recipe, you know that the results don’t always work in your favour, but what about searching for sugar alternatives? Natural sugar substitutes such as pure maple syrup, stevia, and molasses are all suitable options, and come with a range of health benefits, including high calcium levels or lower calorie counts.
Let Them Help in the Kitchen
One of the best ways to help your kids learn about how sweet treats can be harmful if they overindulge is to invite them into the kitchen and help out. You don’t need to attempt more ambitious cakes or recipes, but kid-friendly options such as Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats ready for Thanksgiving will help them develop an appreciation for what goes on in the kitchen. You can use this as a learning opportunity, demonstrating different measurements or even highlighting healthy alternatives to make recipes special. They won’t realize they’re learning, but they will maintain this knowledge better than you expect.
Be Strict With Their Oral Hygiene
No one is born knowing how to take care of their teeth, so you’ll need to encourage excellent oral hygiene from a young age. Of course, kids aren’t always willing to do what you say, and if you’ve got a stubborn child, you can appease them by making them feel they’re part of the decision. Experts recommend letting your kid choose their toothbrush. You should also clean your teeth together each night to help normalize the activity, which will contribute to an excellent and consistent routine.
Get Regular Checkups
You’re not a qualified dentist, though, so you can’t always identify when something is wrong. There is no better way to take care of your child’s teeth than by doing regular check-ups. This is usually done twice a year, and the dentist can identify possible problems, recommend a change in oral hygiene habits, or even suggest cosmetic dentists if they feel it’s necessary. This goes for you as much as it does for your kids, so don’t put off going to the dentist for too long.
Bright Smile
You don’t need to abandon your baking journey, as there are always more cakes to create and sweets to treat yourself (and others) to. Still, it’s important to help your kids maintain excellent dental hygiene and look for ways that ensure your cakes are delicious without causing damage to their teeth and gums.
Annie is a self-taught baker, recipe developer and food photographer, who has an obsession with dessert and beauty! 
