And it’s been a month since we moved here.. a month already?!? Ang bilis ng araw! And though I am not quite settled yet in this mansion (mansyon mansyonan lang no), the kids are all adjusted na! Lately, they have been busy biking and active play. They have the whole block to run eh.. wala pa kameng kapitbahay kase.

Busy ang mga bagets.. which makes me worry sometimes. Ang aga na kase nila nagigising since we moved here, tapos sobrang active pa. Nag woworry ako na baka hindi maka keep up ang body nila sa activities nila, specially this this season, magbabakasyon pa.

So how to keep the kids healthy this Christmas season?

• Provide them with the right food.

Mahirap mamilit ng bata di ba? Specially if they don’t like the food. In terms of veggies, I always take the lead (kahit ako kumakain ng gulay). I eat veggies in front of them to encourage them to eat vegetables too. In terms of junk food, I explain to them how our digestive system works and why there are kinds of food that is bad for their body. They always believe naman what I say and I make sure din naman na whatever I say is true.

TIP: Since it’s Christmas season na, medyo mura na ang grapes, oranges and apples. Be creative with these fruits. Mag imbento ka!

•  Establish a sleeping pattern

Sleep is very important for the kids. And they all need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a day. Mahirap man, specially with my tween boys, I make it a point na nakakatulog sila everyday ng at least 8 hours.

• Give at least 2 glasses of Milk everyday

Our pedia also stressed the need for them to drink Milk at least 2 glasses a day. Milk is a good source of calcium and it is needed by the body for strong bones.

Good thing my kids are not picky eaters anymore at madali na maka intindi when things are explained to them scientifically.

• Supplement their diet with Vitamins

I realized that with their activities, hindi lang Vitamin C ang kailangan ng katawan nila. I checked with their Pedia and I was advised on giving them vitamin supplements that also provides Iron and B Complex. I read from an article that kids need 6 kinds of vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Calcium, Vitamin B and Iron.

I give my kids Ferlin for their Iron dahil ever since, ito na talaga yung gamit namin. Hiyang ang mga bata at talagang effective naman. Nakikita ko na masigla sila, malakas ang mga buto-buto at walang problema sa dugo.

Ceelin naman is what I give my kids for their Vitamin C supplement. They love the taste at syempre, it does wonders din!

And now, mas bongga na becauase buying vitamins for my kids is more convenient. You know naman how it is with my pregnancy. It’s challenging specially physically kaya I’m always for convinient and online buying helps me lighten the load of my mommy duties. Happy to share with you that you can buy all these vitamins at 30% of from  www.heymom.com.ph.

Now, in terms of health, we are ready for Christmas!

It would have been easier if she goes to school everyday, brushing was a  part of her morning routine.  The recent “vacation” put us out of track again… yes, another vacation just a few days after the long Christmas vacation. Tell me, I am not the only one who’s still picking up the pieces (or getting back on track and on shape haha). It was never an issue but recently, we’re having a hard time with brushing. Sati’s the kind of girl that you cannot push, no amount of angry tone or bribing can make her brush if she does not like doing it. And she’s only 5! She already knows how to trick me, keeping me entertained until I forgot that she hasn’t brushed her teeth yet. Witty Girl!

But this mom is smarter than she is! Thanks to Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste’s  fun and exciting dental tips, brushing would be more exciting for her!

The first tip I got from Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste Facebook Page is this:

GIVE HIM A CHOICE – Allow him or her to choose his or her own toothbrush, and toothpaste flavor. A colourful toothbrush, an attractive packaging and a fruity flavor for toothpaste like Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste will add excitement to every brushing time.

Bakit hindi ko naiisip to? Yes! Give her a choice! This little girl likes that so much. She finds peace knowing she have a say on things. Remember how she meticulously planned her 4th and 5th birthday party? As Hapee puts it, an attractive packaging and a fruity flavor can seal the deal.

And from the seven flavors Hapee has to offer, she asked for Strawberry Bloom with Dora Design. Anything with Dora! Sorry Elmo!

Tip number 2 (still from Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste): Sing along!

Brushing should be 2 minutes, we already know that and singing along makes that 2 minute a little shorter and more fun.

Some nursery rhymes for brushing teeth:

• Row, Row, Row Your Boat (repeat 10x)

Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.
Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile, you have to scream.

•  Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star ( repeat 4x)

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are

• Rain, Rain, Go Away (this song is really short, like 10 seconds only, so you need to repeat it for 20 times! TIP>>>think of 20 people that wants to play!)

Rain, rain go away Come again another day. Rain, rain go away Little (name of the child) wants to play.

• Itsy Bitsy Spider (repeat 10 times

Itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout Down came the rain
And washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again

•  5 Little Monkeys (Just finish the song until no more monkeys are jumping on the bed and you’re done with the 2 minutes!0

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said: “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Jumping on the bed! Jumping on the bed! And falling of the bed!
Jumping on the bed! Jumping on the bed! And falling of the bed!

But for those who can’t sing like me.. tip number 3 is more appropriate: Brush with her

because for her, everything we do together is FUN! #funbrushing #dentalhealth

A photo posted by @mommypehpot on Jan 20, 2015 at 12:18am PST

This little girl is obsessed with me. It’s best to tell that part in person, and show how she makes gigil to me. And she’d do anything I would.. one of the reason why I am wearing dressy clothes lately and being girly more than I used to be.. and the excessive skin care routine that I am obsessing (yes, partly, it was to set a good example to her.. and partly, I am planning to stop the time). I am losing track, yes? Ah back to brushing. It would help if I brush with her. Moms with daughters, have you tried that technique? How effective it was?

#FunBrushingTip  number 4: Don’t be too hard on them. If they missed a spot, do not make a big deal out of it. Yes… sometimes I pushed her too hard… must stop doing that. I am not like this with my boys.

As expected, your child won’t be as good as you when it comes to brushing. Don’t stress over when he misses some spot. The more important thing at this stage is to make brushing a fun habit with Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste and its cute cartoon characters. With practice, he’ll improve sooner

Lastly, Encourage them, praise them and make a big deal out of brushing.. dental care is big deal! Hence the lengthy post LOL (ang mahal ng dental fee no!)

They say it takes 2 months to form a habit.. but even after 2 months, I would still be checking on her from time to time (just like I did with her older brothers). I know that with the right brushing tools like Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste, she’ll be saying hello to “Hapee-ier” smile and say goodbye to cavities. I can’t wait for the moment na sya na ang mag papaalala sa akin na it’s brushing time.

It’s the D day again. I’m sweating. I’m nervous. Wait. Can we cancel this appointment? Pwede next week na lang? Or wag na lang kaya?

Wait. This is dental filling, why am I so scared? OK, let’s get it on.. WAIT!! I can’t seat on that chair. I am going to dieeeee

So that is me, from my last trip to the dentist. I do not know why, but I am still not comfortable going the dentist. To think, I have been going ALONE to the dentist since I was 10 (or even younger). The feeling is still the same, anticipating the pain.. is it really painful? Not that much naman di ba? Well, obviously, I was not raised with a strict dental care.. so I promised myself that I will be very vigilant with regards to my kids’ teeth. I don’t want them to feel the same fear I had when going to the dentist.

I FAILED! BIG TIME!

Turns out, I know nothing about dental care, except for the fact that you need to brush your teeth 3x a day.

So, I am saving you from the heartache of watching your son/ daughter suffer a toothache. I present to you:

10 Interesting Facts About Dental Care (And Some Tips On How To Take Care Of Your Teeth)

1. When to start DENTAL CARE? Proper dental care should begin even before the first tooth appears. How? Use a damp cloth to clean your baby’s gum. When the first tooth appears, use a smear of toothpaste and water until they are about 2 years, by that time, they already know how to spit. Use pea sized amount of toothpaste from 2- 5 years old.

2. Take care of the milk teeth. Milk teeth serve as permanent teeth guide. If milk teeth decays earlier than it should be, the permanent teeth will have a hard time finding its point of eruption. That’s the usual cause of Malocclusion of teeth (sungki).

3. Permanent tooth erupts as early as 6 years old. This is my BIGGEST failure. I was not informed!!

Save that image above (image source here) for your child’s safety.

See? First molar erupts as early as 6 years old. And we do not know that, so we end up with a son who’s first molar is so damaged, the dentist had to extract it.

4. Use toothpaste with Fluoride. Here’s the guide in choosing the right toothpaste for your kids:

5. How Fluoride works?

Using a toothpaste with fluoride, specially when teeth are growing, helps in prevention of cavities and tooth decay. The fluoride mixes with the enamel (hard covering of our teeth) making the teeth stronger. Fluoride also helps after teeth are formed, it works with our saliva in protecting the enamel.

6. Here’s something that will blow your mind: Tooth Decay is infectious (it is caused by Streptococcus mutans bacteria) and babies below 9 months old get the infection from their moms. Remember that time when our babies were small and we have to “blow” whatever hot food we feed them? What we do not know was through that blowing, the bacteria is transferred in their food and to their mouth. So just imagine if you share utensils and more so if it is the yaya!)

7. Chew a gum to prevent tooth decay. But not just ordinary gum, chew Lotte XYLITOL.

Lotte Xylitol is a sugar-free gum with over 50%  xylitol as a sugar substitute. Xylitol is a 100% natural sweetener and reduces the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria. cavity- causing

How does Lotte Xylitol Dental Health Gum prevent tooth decay?
• It’s a sugar-free gum with over 50% xylitol as a sugar substitute
• Reduces cavity-causing bacteria that feed on sugar and create acids that dissolve tooth enamel resulting in tooth decay
• Promotes saliva flow to maintain healthy pH levels in the mouth to prevent demineralization of tooth enamel
• Removes particles of food that may be left behind which can cause tooth decay or bad breath
• Helps remove stubborn tartar on teeth surfaces through the chewing action of the gum
• Promotes remineralization or rebuilding of the teeth enamel thru the presence of calcium phosphates and by promoting saliva production

The Complete Dental Health Habit with Lotte Xylitol
• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing after brushing
• Visiting the dentist regularly
• Chewing on Lotte Xylitol Dental Health Gum (2 pellets, 4 to 5 times daily)

Lotte Xylitol comes in 4 exciting flavors : Blueberry Mint, Fresh Mint, Lime Mint, Strawberry.

8. Did you know that 9 out of 10 children in the Philippines suffer from tooth decay? And as mentioned above, kids can also get it from their mommies. So mommies, to prevent the passing of tooth decay causing bacteria, take care of your mouth and teeth too, use Xylitol together with your kids.

Interesting facts are trivial!

9. Dr. Fina Lopez (from the Xylitol event I attended) told us that when brushing your teeth (Fluoride toothpaste of course), do not spit out the toothpaste so that fluoride will stay in your teeth. We already know how fluoride works right?

10. Still from the Xylitol event, Dr. Fina Lopez also mentioned that (she gave the lecture about dental health and how tooth decay is formed) cookies is more damaging to teeth than chocolates. WHAT???

Tooth decay is formed when cavity-causing bacteria that feed on sugar creates acids that dissolve tooth enamel. When you eat cookies, cookie crumbles are left in between your teeth. Cookies are sugar and tooth decay causing bacteria will feed on it! Of course, both chocolates and cookies can damage teeth if you let it stay on your teeth. So brush your teeth every time you eat sweets!