The foods children eat directly affect the status of their dental health
long term. One of the best things a parent can do for their kids’
teeth, outside of promoting proper oral hygiene habits, is teaching
them to make nutritional and health advancing dietary choices.
Foods that are high in carbohydrates, starches, and sugars can
cause dental decay and have a negative impact on dental health
when consumed in immoderate amounts or when left on the teeth
too long after eating. Fostering a healthy and well balanced diet for
children from an early age helps form habits that result in a lifetime
of strong teeth and overall better health.
Making Nutritional Choices For Healthy Teeth and Gums
In addition to brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once
daily, kids should consume a well-balanced and nutritional diet, to
not only promote overall health but also help build a strong healthy
smile.
Some tips for helping kids make nutritional choices to keep their
teeth healthier and cleaner:
• Lean meats, nuts, and proteins—These are a good source
of protein for children and help strengthen tooth enamel.
Consider turkey, chicken, and white fish as good examples of
lean meats. Nuts are a great healthy snack and a quick source
of energy for kids. Low sugar peanut butters are good snack
options as well.
Fruits and vegetables—Fruits and veggies are a good snack
alternative to foods rich in carbohydrates. Fruits and
vegetables with high water content like melons, pears, celery,
and cucumbers are especially good for dental hygiene and
actually help clean the teeth. Eating crunchy, raw fruits and
vegetables every day helps remove some substances thatadhere to the surface of the teeth when eating, as well as
promote overall health.
• Cheese and low-fat dairy products—Aged cheeses like
cheddar, swiss, and monterey jack help generate the flow of
saliva, which aids in removing food particles from the teeth.
Offer these as a snack or as part of a child’s lunch. Low-fat
dairy products like skim milk and yogurt can also promote oral
health.
• Unsweetened foods—Buying unsweetened foods helps
decrease the amount of sugar to potentially cause decay in
your child’s mouth.
• Calcium Sources—Strong sources of calcium are crucial to
your child’s bones and for building strong teeth. Low-fat milks,
cheese, yogurt, and broccoli are good sources of calcium.
• Water instead of sugary juices or soda—Sodas, juices, and
even milk can contain large amounts of sugar that can cause
dental decay. Limit the amount of sugary drinks a child
consumes and get your child in the habit of primarily drinking
water. Water in general helps wash the teeth. Also, never put a
baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice!
• Xylitol-sweetened or sugar free gum—If your child chews
gum make sure it is sugar free or sweetened with Xylitol.
Xylitol actually decreases bacteria in the mouth, and the action
of chewing supports saliva flow, which helps wash away food
particles from the teeth.
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