Have You Been Naughty or Nice to Your Teeth?

Hermey, D.D.G.

If you've seen the holiday TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, then you know that Hermey the Elf is very excited about becoming a dentist. Now, Hermey has been designated a DDG, or Dental Do Gooder, by Dr. Maxine Feinberg, ADA president, for promoting good dental health to his friend Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and everyone in the North Pole. He loves teeth and he thinks everyone should know how to take care of them.

Here is a Healthy Teeth Checklist that Hermey uses so he can remember how to keep his mouth healthy. Moms and Dads, you can print out this checklist to help your kids remember to take care of their teeth too!

✓ Brush your teeth two times a day for two minutes. Even the boss elf brushes his teeth for two minutes, two times a day!

✓ Eat healthy snacks. Like fruits and vegetables. It’s not good for your teeth when you eat sticky candy or sugary cookies.

✓ Avoid drinking sodas, juices and sports drinks with a lot of sugar. Rudolph and Santa’s Sleigh Team always drink lots of water with fluoride in it. That’s why they have such strong, healthy teeth.

✓ Protect your teeth by wearing a mouthguard whenever you play any sports. Rudolph and the reindeer never play games without wearing their mouthguard!

✓ Visit your dentist. Just like Hermey, your dentist wants to help you take care of your teeth. Going to the dentist and getting your teeth cleaned is very important. Why? Because yucky plaque can stick to your teeth and make a hole in your tooth. This is called a cavity. Hermey doesn’t want you to have a cavity because it can make your tooth hurt.

Remember it’s never too late to be nice to your teeth. A healthy mouth is good for your whole body. Now that’s the kind of joy that makes Santa Ho-Ho-Ho!

This article first appeared on MouthHealthy.org, an A.D.A. website. Here is the link.