Nutrition to help children’s teeth

It’s essential for children to enjoy a balanced, nutritious and healthy diet that will be able to aid the growth and maintenance of their teeth. However, what they consume can also increase or decrease the chances of developing tooth decay and fillings.

Added to this the fact that children often struggle to care for their teeth as well as adults, and you have a recipe for disaster. As a parent, one of the best things you can do for your child is help to guide them towards healthy food options and limit the consumption of food items that could damage their teeth.

Consumption of high amounts of carbs, sugars and starches can lead to tooth decay. If these foods and liquids remain on the child’s teeth for a long time, the chances for tooth decay will be higher.

One of the simplest and most efficient solutions that every parent can do is to make their children understand what healthy food is and why it is important to consume healthy food. The following is a list of foods that can improve the health of our teeth and they are especially useful for young children.

Fruits and vegetables

When children ask for a snack, it’s better to reach for fruits or vegetables rather than carb-filled snacks like crisps or cookies. Starchy carbs stick to the teeth and attack the teeth if they are not brushed away.

On the other hand, fruits and vegetables that are packed with water like melons, pears, cucumbers and celery have proven to be the best foods for teeth. Snacks like hummus and carrots make a great after school snack. A small piece of cheese and some chopped pepper is another snack that is great for the teeth.

Raisins and other dried fruits are higher in sugars than fresh alternatives and they are not very good for the dental health of your child. These choices should be enjoyed as occasional treats following a main meal, rather than a snack between meals.

Cheese and dairy

Cheese can be used during dinner or lunch or even as a snack. Almost every type of cheese stimulates the production of saliva and with the help of saliva; your kids will be able to remove the leftovers that get stuck in the teeth.

Snacks like yoghurt can be a great way to increase calcium and vitamin D in their diet. Both are essential for overall health and bone strength. Try to avoid yoghurts that are marked as “low fat” as these are likely to be very high in sugar. Instead, look for natural yoghurt sweetened with fruits.

Water

When looking for a drink, children should always be directed towards water for hydration. You might occasionally offer other drinks like cordial, fruit juice or flavoured milk as a treat, but the majority of the time your child should be drinking water.

Water will help to protect the teeth while also reducing the risk of blood sugar spikes and removing the risk of consuming empty calories. Fizzy drinks should be avoided at all costs, as these are highly acidic and will attack the enamel on the teeth which can lead to tooth decay.

Food timing

Children are always going to want to enjoy sweet treats, and we don’t want to say that they have to avoid them altogether. It’s possible to make sweet treats a healthy part of a balanced diet, and it’s often about timing rather than what they eat.

If you are going to allow your child to enjoy sweet treats, only offer them after meal times. Leave between meal snacks for healthier choices like fruits or vegetables. By sticking to this schedule, your child’s teeth will be better protected against decay as they will be releasing saliva to digest their main meal.

It also offers the added benefit of encouraging your child to eat less of the sweet treat, as they will be full from their main meal.

Foods to avoid

Dried figs, raisins, biscuits, crisps, cereal bars, sweets, honey, caramel and other similar foods are difficult to remove from the teeth. These should be enjoyed as occasional treats and should not make up a regular part of your child’s diet.

These foods are high in sugar and starch. As we chew them, they break down into a sticky substance that coats the teeth. This food debris can stay stuck in their teeth all day long, increasing the exposure to the sugary substance while also allowing bacteria to flourish. The result is an increased risk of tooth decay.

Final thoughts on children’s nutrition

Fussy eaters can make it difficult to achieve a balance between getting enough to eat and protecting their teeth. If you’re concerned about your child’s oral health, book an appointment with our team today.

We can help advise you on ways to encourage your child to explore new foods and also offer some reassurance on their oral health. Regular checkups are one of the best ways to safeguard your child’s oral health. For more advice about nutrition and its impact on your child’s teeth, please get in touch.