You can set the stage for your child’s healthy smile beginning with what they eat each day. While kids need strong, healthy teeth to chew, speak, and smile equally, food plays a significant role in achieving healthy teeth while preventing cavities (just like brushing and flossing do).
When it comes to nutrition for growing healthy children, balanced eating is often an afterthought—but not when it comes to their teeth. The foods children eat can help protect their teeth or harm them. Choosing carefully and feeding well makes a tremendous difference! If you’ve got a child that is in need of pediatric dentistry in Oakville, learning about the top foods for good oral health is an excellent place to start.
Why Nutrition Matters for Children’s Teeth
Food gives our bodies the vitamins and minerals they need to remain healthy, including teeth and gums. Since children’s teeth are still developing, they require the proper nutrition to grow stronger and not get cavities.
Eating sugary or sticky snacks regularly can cause cavities due to sugar feeding bacteria that then make acids that destroy the teeth. Contrastingly, some foods can add protection to teeth by washing away bacteria on the teeth or giving them strength.
If you see a dentist near you, they will likely mention how your child’s diet connects to their oral health. Healthy mouths are supported by good diets, clean teeth, healthy gums, and fresher breath.
What Are Teeth-Friendly Foods for Children?
Some foods are very beneficial for your child’s teeth. Here are some examples of foods good for teeth that you can feed your child every day:
- Cheese, milk, and yogurt: These foods have calcium and phosphates, which strengthen teeth. These foods also help keep the mouth’s acid levels balanced.
- Fruits and vegetables: Crunchy fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, and celery, help clean the teeth naturally by removing food debris. Crunchy foods also produce saliva that washes away germs.
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale: Leafy greens are loaded with vitamins and minerals that help enamel stay strong and help keep your gums healthy.
- Eggs and lean meats: Eggs and lean meats are great sources of protein, phosphorus, and vitamin D; nutrients your child needs for strong teeth.
- Nuts and seeds: These are healthy sources of fats and minerals to help maintain teeth strength and can make a great snack when age-appropriate.
Which Foods Should Be Limited?
Though some foods are good for the teeth, other food groups should be eaten less frequently. These foods will increase the chance of cavities:
- Candy & sweets: The sticky candy, gummy candy, and hard candy will attach to teeth and feed the bacteria that cause cavities.
- Sugary drinks, such as soda and juice: Sugary drinks have sugars and acids that can wear down the enamel of the teeth.
- Starchy snacks, such as chips and crackers: Starches break down into sugars and can be packed into the teeth for hours.
Sit your child down to an after-meal and after-snack glass of water. Water will help flush away food and sugar.
Easy Nutrition Tips for Children’s Oral Health
To support your child’s teeth, try the following nutrition tips for children’s oral health:
- Offer water instead of sugary drinks
- Serve fruits and vegetables with every meal
- Choose snacks like cheese, nuts, or yogurt
- Limit snacks between meals to reduce acid attacks
- Pack healthy lunches for school
- Avoid sticky or chewy treats that stay on the teeth
Teaching your child to make healthy choices from a young age helps them build habits that protect their teeth for life.
How Diet Affects Baby Teeth and Permanent Teeth
Children start with baby teeth, but they soon grow permanent teeth. Both need care. The minerals in healthy foods like calcium and phosphorus help form strong enamel. This makes the teeth harder and more resistant to decay.
Good nutrition also supports healthy gums, which hold the teeth in place. The stronger the enamel on teeth, the harder the teeth become, and the more resistant they are to decay.
Give Your Child a Healthy Smile for Life
A healthy, strong smile begins with good nutrition. By providing teeth-friendly food for children, you are helping to protect their teeth and provide them with the ability to establish and maintain better oral health as they get older.
Book an appointment today with Oakwest Dental. We would love to help your child smile with pride!