{"id":126,"date":"2020-12-06T19:58:40","date_gmt":"2020-12-06T19:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomthedentist.com\/blog\/?p=126"},"modified":"2026-01-21T23:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T23:16:07","slug":"stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beacondentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/06\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Stocking Stuffers That Won\u2019t Ruin Your Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beacondentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/06\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\/\" class=\"block-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomthedentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AdobeStock_303710243__1609942423_68040.jpg\" alt=\"a single, red holiday stocking filled with small presents\" class=\"wp-image-127\" style=\"width:273px;height:178px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Finding the right stocking stuffer isn\u2019t always easy.\nWhile you could reach for your partner\u2019s favorite candy, the truth is that this\nsweet gift can lead to tooth decay and other serious oral health problems.\nFortunately, there are plenty of healthier alternatives that will keep their\nsmile free of cavities. If you are looking for ideas to fill your loved one\u2019s stocking\nthis year, read on to hear from a local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomthedentist.com\/our-practice.html\">dentist<\/a> who can\nhelp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Surprise Them with a New Toothbrush<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it is time for your partner to say goodbye to their\nold toothbrush, there\u2019s no harm in slipping a new one into their stocking. No\nmatter if it\u2019s manual or electric, these effective instruments are a great way\nto encourage someone you love to maintain good oral hygiene, especially throughout\nthe holiday season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Be Afraid to Incorporate New Flavors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Does your spouse enjoy the taste of berry? Do you often find\nthem chewing bubble gum? If so, why not incorporate them into their stocking by\npurchasing flavored dental floss and mouthwash? Your dentist in Weatherford can\nrecommend various products you can buy that will give your loved one a chance\nto change up their oral hygiene routine with flavors that are exciting. Just\nremember to look for the ADA Seal of Approval when buying. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treat Them to Sugar-Free Snacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While some individuals would prefer their stockings be\nfilled with all the sugary goodness of their favorite cookies and candies, it\u2019s\nbest to stay away from these and instead, offer up sugar-free treats. If the\nperson you\u2019re buying for enjoys chewing gum, why not consider purchasing a\nproduct that contains no sugar but still tastes sweet. Not only can it help\nincrease saliva production, but it can also help remove food particles that try\nto adhere to tooth enamel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Help Them Improve Their Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Has your spouse, parent, or sibling mentioned the idea of\ncosmetic dentistry? Do they complain about the color of their teeth or the\nchips and cracks that make them feel embarrassed? If so, why not gift them with\na visit to see a cosmetic dentist in Weatherford? This generous gift will\nprovide them the chance to meet with a trusted professional who can examine\ntheir problem areas and recommend helpful treatment options that will help them\nfeel more confident in their appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of resorting to candies and cheap toys to fill your\nfamily\u2019s stockings this year, opt for smile-friendly alternatives that will keep\ntheir teeth shining bright in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Thomas Novak earned his dental degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1991. After serving in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps for 5 years, he earned \u201cTop Doc\u201d honors. In 1998, he earned a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry and continues to pursue educational courses and training to further his skill set. Leading a team of professionals at his practice in Weatherford, he strives to help all patients achieve healthier smiles year-round. When it comes to the holidays, he can provide helpful tips and ideas to avoid sweets and ensure teeth and gums are ready for the new year. If you\u2019re looking for stocking stuffers that won\u2019t ruin your loved one\u2019s smile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomthedentist.com\/contact-us.html\">contact us<\/a> at <a href=\"tel:+18172304340\">(817) 230-4340<\/a> and let a \u201cdentist near me\u201d help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Finding the right stocking stuffer isn\u2019t always easy. While you could reach for your partner\u2019s favorite candy, the truth is that this sweet gift can lead to tooth decay and other serious oral health problems. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthier alternatives that will keep their smile free of cavities. If you are looking for ideas to fill your loved one\u2019s stocking this year, read on to hear from a local dentist who can help. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beacondentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/06\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Stocking Stuff | Smile-Friendly Ideas | Dr. Thomas Novak<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ready to give your loved ones a stocking stuffer that won\u2019t ruin their smile? A local dentist shares a few ideas that will keep their teeth healthy well into the new year.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beacondentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/06\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stocking Stuff | Smile-Friendly Ideas | Dr. Thomas Novak\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ready to give your loved ones a stocking stuffer that won\u2019t ruin their smile? A local dentist shares a few ideas that will keep their teeth healthy well into the new year.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beacondentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/06\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Beacon Dentistry Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-12-06T19:58:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-21T23:16:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tomthedentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AdobeStock_303710243__1609942423_68040.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"beacondentistry\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"beacondentistry\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"beacondentistry\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e75b4e6eb2719fb4cc52da7e36656602\"},\"headline\":\"Great Stocking Stuffers That Won\u2019t Ruin Your Smile\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-12-06T19:58:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-21T23:16:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":567,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.tomthedentist.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/AdobeStock_303710243__1609942423_68040.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/\",\"name\":\"Stocking Stuff | Smile-Friendly Ideas | Dr. Thomas Novak\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/12\\\/06\\\/stocking-stuffer-healthy-alternatives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.tomthedentist.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/AdobeStock_303710243__1609942423_68040.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-12-06T19:58:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-21T23:16:07+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.beacondentistry.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e75b4e6eb2719fb4cc52da7e36656602\"},\"description\":\"Ready to give your loved ones a stocking stuffer that won\u2019t ruin their smile? 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