As 2015 settles in, we find ourselves also settling into our routines. Whether you’re at work, at home, or anywhere in between, we are creatures of habit. As such, it is important that we strive for building positive habits for not only ourselves, but our children as well.
At Dentistry for Children & Adolescents, we do our best to instill proper dental care and knowledge into all who walk through our doors. Today, we continue that mission by offering a few tooth-friendly foods for your children, along with a few you should avoid.
Tooth Friendly Snacks #1: Apples
They can act as something of a natural toothbrush while also stimulating blood flow in the gums and increase saliva flow, which is important to protecting teeth and gum tissue. Not to mention how packed with vitamins and minerals they are, apples are one of the simplest snacks you can keep around your home.
Tooth Friendly Snacks #2: Cheese & Dairy
Cheddar, Gouda, Swiss and other aged cheeses help trigger saliva flow which is also very important for washing away food particles on teeth.
Dairy products of all sorts, provided sugar is not added, help teeth in a number of ways. Milk, yogurt, and similar products provide calcium and phosphates. A study that was published in the Journal of Oral Dentistry found that kids who eat at least four servings of dairy per week were less likely to get cavities than those who didn’t.
Tooth Friendly Snacks #3: Whole-grain options
By design, these type of foods are lower in sugar and calories because they’re sold to health-conscious buyers, which is a double bonus for you and your family. Crackers are a great whole-grain option, and cereals are generally a big hit with children. It’s easy to incorporate whole-grain into full-blown meals as well. When grocery shopping, look for the variety of pasta, rice, and bread to supplement your family meals.
As we’ve gone over in the past, there are also plenty of options to avoid. Ranging from sticky, dried fruits, citrus-only or highly acidic snacks, cereal bars, are all prone to developing cavities on a child’s tooth. However, now that you know what to look for and the common culprits, you should have no problem providing a healthy and tasty treat for whenever you’re family wants it!
Remember, developing good eating habits start with you, making it a group effort will not only make it fun and easy for them but also help you keep your own smile looking bright and beautiful!
