This December 4, you can celebrate National Cookie Day and still make your child’s pediatric dentist happy as long as you make smart selections. Not sure which cookies you should let your child indulge in? Consider the following best and worst cookies for dental health and talk to your pediatric dentist about the healthiest options for your child.

4 Best & Worst Cookies for Teeth

1. Oatmeal Raisin

One of the best cookies you can let your child enjoy is an oatmeal raisin variety. Research shows raisins actually contain anti-cavity fighting chemicals, which are definitely preferable to sugar-filled chocolate chips. Additionally, the oatmeal can provide a texture that will help clean teeth, rather than get stuck in crevices.

2. Almond Blueberry

Cookies that include fruits like blueberries and tiny, slivered nuts are also a healthy option when it comes to celebrating National Cookie Day. Fruits naturally contain sugar, which means you don’t have to add as much to the batter to sweeten them. Additionally, nuts like almond slivers are easier to chew and less likely to stick to your teeth than peanuts.

3. Biscotti

The biscotti is one of the worst varieties of cookie you can eat when it comes to your oral health. While they may contain less sugar than a traditional cookie and have some healthy components, their texture is hard and can cause fractures to teeth. If your child experiences a toothache after eating a hard cookie, follow up with your pediatric dentist to ensure they didn’t break or chip a tooth.

4. Peanut Butter

With their high sugar content and chewy, sticky texture, peanut butter cookies are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to your child’s oral health. Because of their two main ingredients – sugar and peanut butter – these cookies are likely to stick between teeth and accelerate decay.

If your child indulges a little too much in National Cookie Day this December and experiences a toothache, visit the pediatric dentist at Brandi Prather, DMD, PSC in Pulaski County, KY for superior oral care services. They provide competent dental hygiene treatments for children in a compassionate and comfortable environment. To learn more about how this dental practice can improve your child’s smile, visit them online or call (606) 679-5437.