As a parent, you do everything possible to ensure your children are happy and healthy. Well, that includes making certain they have sufficient vitamins and minerals in their everyday diet. Being mindful of the foods they consume isn’t just beneficial to their overall health – it can keep their smile problem-free! With a few simple additions, you can drastically lower their risk of issues like cavities and gum disease. Read on to learn which delicious choices can improve children’s oral health!
Fruits and Vegetables
Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are a staple of any healthy diet. Thankfully, they’re great for your smile as well! Having your child eat more foods like celery, carrots, and apples can ward off tooth decay. When chewed, these high-fiber foods gently scrub the teeth, helping remove some of the cavity-causing plaque and bacteria.
Low-Fat Milk & Cheese
When you were younger, were you ever told to drink more milk for strong bones? Dairy products are well-known for providing calcium, which not only strengthens bones but your teeth as well. Eating lots of milk and cheese can rebuild your child’s enamel and encourage the development of permanent teeth!
Nonfat Yogurt
Yogurt is another great source of calcium, but it also contains probiotic bacteria that studies suggest can help prevent plaque buildup. In fact, it can even stop the earliest stages of gum disease! If you’re going to feed your child yogurt, make sure it’s nonfat or low-fat so they can reap the health benefits.
Eggs
Eggs – you can scramble them, poach them, boil them, or even fry them! They’re a healthy food that contains several important nutrients like vitamin D, which helps the teeth absorb calcium. In addition, eggs are rich in protein, meaning they can strengthen the teeth and jawbone.
Nuts and Seeds
Biting down on a hard nut or regularly chewing on tough seeds can wear down your child’s teeth, causing them to become weak. The good news is that there are softer nuts your child can eat that’ll help protect their smile against cavities. Walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds contain vitamins that have been proven to reduce gum inflammation.
Sugar-Free Gum
According to the American Dental Association, chewing sugar-free gum can significantly reduce tooth decay. The best time for your child to chew it is 20 minutes after a meal, primarily because it stimulates saliva production, which can help wash away cavity-causing particles.
Do you see any foods your child likes? By encouraging them to eat some of the choices on this list, you can easily promote good oral health!
About the Practice
At Castle Rock Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we specialize in providing high-quality and comprehensive services to children ages 0-18. Our team understands that each child is unique and will personalize treatments to suit their needs. To learn more about foods that improve children’s oral health, visit our website or call (303) 660-5373.
