What diet and nutritional advice can be offered for building
strong teeth?
Experts agree that children need food from
all the major food groups to grow properly and stay healthy. Too
many carbohydrates, sugars (for example, from cake, cookies,
candies, milk, and other sugary foods and beverages), and savory
foods and starches (for example, pretzels and potato chips) can
cause tooth decay. How long carbohydrates remain on the teeth is
the main culprit that leads to tooth decay.
Here are some tips for selecting and eating foods that are more
healthful to your child's teeth:
- Keep fruits and vegetables in your house to offer as
"healthy snacks" instead of carbohydrates. Choose fruits and
vegetables that contain a high volume of water, such as pears,
melons, celery, and cucumbers. Limit bananas and raisins, as these
contain concentrated sugar. You should brush immediately after
these fruits are eaten.
- Serve cheese with lunch or as a snack. Cheese,
especially cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and other aged cheeses,
help to trigger the flow of saliva, which helps wash food particles
away from teeth.
- Avoid sticky, chewy foods. Raisins, dried figs, granola
bars, oatmeal or peanut butter cookies, jelly beans, caramel,
honey, molasses, and syrup stick to teeth, making it difficult for
saliva to wash away. If your child consumes these types of
products, have him or her brush their teeth immediately after
eating.
- Serve sugary treats with meals, not as snacks. If you
plan to give your child any sweets, give them as desserts
immediately following the meal. There's usually an increased
amount of saliva in the mouth around mealtime, making it easier to
wash food away from teeth. The mealtime beverage also helps to wash
away food particles on teeth.
- Get your children in the habit of eating as few snacks as
possible. The frequency of snacking is far more important than
the quantity consumed. Time between meals allows saliva to wash
away food particles that bacteria would otherwise feast on.
Frequent snacking, without brushing immediately afterwards,
provides constant fuel to feed bacteria, which leads to plaque
development and tooth decay. Try to limit snacks as much as
possible and to no more than one or two a day. Brush teeth
immediately after consuming the snack, if possible.
- Avoid sugary foods that linger on the teeth. Lollipops,
hard candies, cough drops, and mints all contribute to tooth decay
because they continuously coat the teeth with sugar.
- Buy foods that are sugar-free or unsweetened.
- Never put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with milk,
formula, juice, or soda. If your baby needs a bottle at
bedtime, fill it with plain water.
- Offer your child plain water instead of juice or soda.
Juices, sodas, and even milk contain sugar. Water does not harm the
teeth and aids in washing away any food particles that may be
clinging to teeth.
- Include good sources of calcium in your child's diet
to build strong teeth. Good sources include milk, broccoli, and
yogurt.