The holiday season is in full swing! You’ve got the big ticket items down on your kiddo’s wish list, but sometimes even Santa needs some inspiration for stocking stuffer gifts for kids!
Well, the elves here at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are clocking in, and we’ve put together a guide with practical, fun, and perfect stocking stuffer ideas for kids of all ages to promote healthy dental habits.
Here are our top 9 stocking stuffer ideas to make sure your kiddo’s smile shines as bright as the holiday lights this Christmas!
1. Colorful Toothbrushes
Every child needs a good toothbrush, and adding a fun, vibrant one to their stocking is always a hit! Toothbrushes designed specifically for kids are perfect for caring for growing teeth and gums while helping them build healthy brushing habits. You can easily find them at local stores like Target, Walmart, or Amazon (for bundle deals). Just make sure they’re ADA-approved toothbrushes! Here’s a quick list of them.
- Preschool stocking stuffer: Look for toothbrushes with their favorite cartoon characters or ones that light up. Spinbrush™ is a great ADA-approved brand that always has the coolest character toothbrushes!
- For 7- to 10-year-olds: Opt for electric toothbrushes with built-in timers—they make brushing simple and easy while ensuring your kiddo brushes for the full two minutes. Quip kids sonic toothbrush vibrates in increments to let your kiddo know when to switch brushing areas and when their brushing time hits 2 minutes.
2. Tasty, Kid-Friendly Toothpaste
Make brushing more exciting with fun-flavored toothpaste! Again, make sure it’s an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste. Here’s a quick list of them to view.
- Kindergarten stocking stuffers: Go for fruity flavors like bubblegum or strawberry.
- For older kids: Choose fluoride toothpaste in cool flavors like watermelon or berry blast that still provide excellent cavity protection.
3. Dental health books for kids
Help your little ones learn about brushing, flossing, and trips to the dentist through stories! Bonus that books add some bulk to those stockings too.
- For preschoolers and kindergarteners: we have our top 7 picks here for dental health books for toddlers!
- For older kids: Seek out puzzle books, storybooks featuring tooth fairies, or adventures at the dentist’s office. Ask our Kids Smiles team for recommendations too!
4. Mini Dental Travel Kit
A travel dental care kit is perfect for kids to add to their school bags so they can brush their teeth after meals and snacks at school. These are often small enough to store in their lunchboxes too! You can find holiday gift sets at Walmart or Target, or you can build your own!
Just grab a cute zippered bag/pouch and fill it with:
- A kids toothbrush
- A fluoride kid-friendly toothpaste
- Kids flossers
- A compact mirror
- And their favorite lip balm
5. Chapstick or Lip Balm
Winter can be rough on lips, so lip balm is a thoughtful addition to any stocking. Plus around the holidays, there’s always chapstick gift sets on sale!
- For preschool and kindergarten-aged kids: Pick out fun flavors like cotton candy or vanilla.
- For older kids: Opt for holiday-themed balms or brands with SPF for extra protection.
6. Floss sticks
Flossing is super important, especially during the holidays with lots of crunchy, sticky candies and yummy holiday popcorn to enjoy. Floss sticks can be a great addition to kids’ stockings because they’re easy to use and kids always need more.
Here’s the 5 best floss sticks for kids!
7. Plaque-disclosing Tablets
Plaque-disclosing tablets can be fun stocking stuffers for 7 year olds! These are great at visually revealing to kids what areas they need to pay more attention to when brushing.
It’s like a little fun science experiment!
8. Smile-friendly Snacks
Fill those stockings with their favorite candies and some smile-friendly snacks too! Not only will these help balance their sugar intake, but they can help keep their teeth healthy and their bellies full this holiday season.
Fill their stockings with:
- sugar-free gum
- individual packs of trail mix
- Small bags of chips or popcorn
- Snack bars
- Individual packs of nuts
- Fun-size packs of cheeseballs
Snacks are always great stocking stuffers for 9 year olds, or for any picky eaters to help them get the nutrients they need!
9. Fun Water Bottles
At a loss for stocking stuffer ideas for 10 year olds? Kids always need more water bottles! From losing them at school or sports practice, this is another practical and essential stocking stuffer. Having enough water bottles not only helps kids stay hydrated throughout the day, but water also helps rinse away food particles too.
Try shopping at Costco, BJ’s, or Sam’s Club for great deals on kids’ water bottle packs!
Keep your little ones’ smiles bright this holiday season!
Stocking stuffer gifts for kids don’t have to all be candy and toys! With these smile-friendly stocking stuffers, you can promote healthy habits and keep your little one’s smile sparkling all year long.
The Kids Smiles team wishes you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!
Looking for a trusted pediatric dentist in the Bradenton or Tampa Bay area? Schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentists in North Tampa, South Tampa, Town ‘n’ Country, Wesley Chapel, or East Bradenton. Come experience why we’re Tampa Bay’s preferred pediatric dentists!
