What food to eat and avoid for a child’s dental health
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What Food to Eat and Avoid for a Child’s Dental Health

As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child’s teeth, gums, and mouth are healthy. Apart from brushing and flossing daily, their diet plays a significant role in their dental and overall well-being. Knowing which foods to feed your child is essential to protect their dental health and ensure their mouths develop well.

Poor feeding habits can increase your kid’s risk of oral and overall health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, bite problems, esthetic problems, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and pneumonia. Most people would agree that maintaining excellent oral health is easy and more affordable than correcting these issues. Visit our New Westminster dental clinic for general dental care tips.

Gum and Dental-Friendly Food Options for Children

The best foods for your child’s mouth stimulate saliva production, supply vitamins and minerals, strengthen and remineralize teeth, repair the enamel, and wash away bacteria and acids. These include:

  • Dairy products

Dairy products contain numerous minerals and nutrients, such as calcium, which helps strengthen your kid’s teeth and protect them from cavities. Ensure you go for low-sugar dairy products such as unsweetened yogurt, milk, and cheese. You can mix dairy with fresh fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries to make the meals fun and delicious for your kid.

  • Lean Protein

Lean proteins from healthy sources like fish, eggs, and poultry have essential nutrients and minerals that help strengthen your kid’s teeth and fight demineralization. You can choose healthy protein options like eggs, chicken, beans, shrimp, tilapia, tuna, turkey breast, and eggs.

  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

Veggies and Fruits are healthy and nutritious snacks for a child’s dental health. Most vegetables and fruits have fiber and water, increasing saliva production and removing debris and bacteria. Be sure to avoid fruits high in sugar.
Healthy veggies and fruits to include in your kid’s diet include:

  • Apples
  • Avocado
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Leafy greens like kales and spinach which are rich in calcium and folic acids and, protect against enamel erosion and gum disease.
  • Broccoli is high in vitamin C and helps fight against oral infections like gum disease.
  • Nuts

Besides keeping your kid full, nuts are high in good fats, minerals, and protein. These nutrients are essential for your child’s both dental and overall well-being. Nuts are very low in carbs, which reduces the risk of developing cavities and health issues like diabetes. Healthy nuts to feed your child include almonds, cashews, peanuts, macadamias, and walnuts.

  • Healthy Beverages

Your child needs to take liquids to stimulate saliva production and help wash away bacteria and debris from the mouth. Healthy drinks for maintaining healthy teeth and gums include water and, milk.

Unhealthy Foods and Drinks for Kids

Some foods are bad for your child’s teeth and overall health. Below are unhealthy snacks that can hurt your child’s smile:

  • Hard, chewy, and gummy snacks
  • Caramel and taffy (they are sticky and high in sugars).
  • Potato chips
  • Sour and acidic foods
  • Dried fruits like raisins, prunes, and apricots contain highly concentrated sugars, increasing your child’s risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
  • Pop
  • Sugary fruit juices

Final Verdict

Generally, you should avoid foods and beverages high in carbohydrates, sugars, and acids. When left on teeth for long, they increase your child’s risk of developing decay and gum disease. Ensure you always have healthy snacks in the house to prevent your child from consuming unhealthy and sugary junk food and snacks.

Also, encourage your child to drink water regularly to prevent a dry mouth and help wash away bacteria and debris from the mouth. It will keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy and beautiful for many years. For more information about children’s dentistry, contact Asante Dental Centre.

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