Review and Giveaway: Oralcryst Junior CLOSED

My son may not have slept through the night until he was 13 months old and he may have a fiery temper but one area where I've been lucky is oral care. I don't really have to fight with him to brush his teeth. While he's excellent at getting the front and sides clean, the back teeth can be troublesome to reach, and he's not always patient enough to sit still for Mommy when she tries to assist him. I worry that over time his molars will be susceptible to cavities, a common childhood ailment. So, when I was contacted to review Oralcryst Junior, I thought it could be just the trick to protect those pearly whites.

Oralcryst Junior is a revolutionary new, sugar-free hard candy from Japan, designed for toddlers with fully erupted molars and older children. It is formulated with four effective ingredients to help kids naturally wash and chew away cavity-causing bacteria and optimize oral health:

• Ovalgen DC - a natural food ingredient that contains livetin (immunoglobulins) from egg yolk that helps maintain teeth health
• Xylitol - a sugar substitute that inhibits the growth of Mutan S. bacteria and helps to neutralize acidic conditions in the mouth that lead to tooth decay
• Calcium - an essential mineral to build and maintain strong bones and teeth
• Vitamin D3 - aids absorption of Calcium

Oralcryst Junior contains no preservatives or artificial flavors. As your child chews the candy, these ingredients work together to break down plaque, strengthen tooth enamel and reduce the risk of early dental cavity development. The extra saliva produced while chewing washes the bacteria away so there's no need to rinse. Kids think they are eating a tasty candy and parents rest easy knowing their teeth are in tip-top shape!

Here is a graphic representation of how Oralcryst Junior works to prevent cavities:

(Please note Oralcryst Junior will not cure existing cavities but works to prevent further damage.)

I was sent an assortment of Oralcryst Junior flavors to try including Orange, Grape, Strawberry and Green Apple.

Now, I don't make a habit of giving Nate candy, especially hard candy. Not only because of the choking risk but because I don't want him to develop a preference for sweets. However, the dental benefits of Oralcryst Junior made me feel less guilty so I saw this as a good experiment. The candies are smaller than the size of a dime and even though Nate could probably chew them easily himself, I break them in half just in case. I figure you can never be too careful!

The directions say to offer 2-4 candies after brushing (no more than 8 per day) so I chose to go with the lower end of the spectrum. I gave Nate 2 candies each after his morning and nighttime brushing. He loved them! He devoured all of the flavors with equal enthusiasm, and would even ask for more! I think his favorite flavor was the sweet Strawberry. My personal favorite was the tangy Green Apple. The only flavor I didn't care for was Grape, which I found to be a little chalky, but Nate didn't seem to mind. He loves having a "treat" after brushing or eating and I love that it won't hurt - but will help - his teeth. I also love that all of the candies are white in color so they are non-staining, even when my little man becomes a drool monster. I may not be able to visibly see results but I feel comfortable that the health of his teeth will be maintained through his first visit to the dentist and beyond.

I think Oralcryst Junior is a great way to ensure optimum dental health in young children who are unable to brush completely and precisely. And since our babes aren't aware that it is actually good for them, you can also use these candies in place of M&M's or other confections for positive reinforcement during potty training or other activities! Keep in mind, if your child is allergic to milk or egg products, you will want to avoid this product.

BUY IT: You can purchase Oralcryst Junior online at www.oralcryst.com (ARV $3.99/40-ct. pouch or $14.99/4-pk.). Keep your eye out for the minty adult version coming soon!

WIN IT: The folks at Oralcryst Junior are oh so generously giving away 10 multi-packs to 10 lucky readers!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Head on over to the Oralcryst website and tell me something you learned while you were there. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet or come up with one of your own:

Protect your child's pearly whites with Oralcryst Junior sugar-free candies @kris10chumley 10 winners! Ends 7/10 http://bit.ly/b4P1Sl

Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) Add my button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

4.) Become a fan of the Oralcryst Club on Facebook. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on July 10, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. residents 18+ only. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As noted above, I received a variety pack of Oralcryst Junior from Nan at Oralcryst in exchange for my honest review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed are purely mine. Your experience may differ. Oralcryst does NOT take the place of regular brushing. It is meant to be a preventative measure and will not cure existing cavities.