My almost 4 year old has recently discovered chewing gum. It was at her little sister’s first birthday party where we set up a candy buffet and I thought it would be cute to have martini glasses filled with colorful gimbals. I didn’t expect this would be the first time she tried gum, but since she asked and she’s good at following directions (as in- don’t swallow your gum) I decided it was time to let her taste some gum. Within a few hours she was hooked and since then she has asked me for gum every single day.
At first I didn’t think much about her chewing gum, and then I realized that I don’t like giving her extra sugar throughout the day and she might be getting it from gum. I didn’t think there were “healthy” chewing gums available, but then I discovered Orbit gum for kids. They have kid-friendly flavors like strawberry and banana that my daughter loves, and they contain xylitol which has shown to be a great sugar-free sweetener that may also promote oral health. I try to teach my daughter the importance of maintaining a healthy smile and encourage her to brush her teeth twice a day. She also just learned how to floss, so with her oral care routine she is already on her way to keeping her smile healthy throughout her life. I’ve really had no issues with her brushing her teeth, but she does not want me helping her anymore and I’m not sure if she does a great job in brushing her teeth on her own. I always supervise her and tell her if she’s missed some teeth, but at 4 years old, I would feel more comfortable if she would let me help her more.
You can find out more about , which comes in two fun flavors – Bubble Gum and Strawberry and Banana.