How Different Foods Affect Your Child’s Smile

The right foods can certainly do a body good, but how do they, and foods that aren’t so great, specifically impact the teeth and gums? Nutritious grains, greens, and more help to build a strong smile and should be prioritized while items that fall outside of those categories can enter into your child’s diet in moderation. If you want your child to have less cavities, our Saginaw pediatric dentist highly recommends pairing a diligent at-home oral care routine with healthy food choices.

Here’show sugar can affect your child’s oral health, tips for limiting sweets, and examples of foods that you can include in meals or snacks.

Sugar Intake & Cavity Formation

Whether you’re aware or not, most foods are composed of some type of sugar. Yes, even healthy foods like vegetables, fruit, and some types of yogurt contain a level of sugar inside of them. Though these are considered “natural sugars”, they are still something to consider when consuming them or giving them to your child(ren). The “added sugars” portion of the food label is especially important to note.

This sugar, if not moderated or followed up with proper oral hygiene, can lead to childhood tooth decay and result in the need for dental fillings or even stainless steel dental crowns. But how do cavities arise from eating sugar?

Well, after your child consumes a sugary food, the bacteria on their teeth turns it into acid. This acid starts to harm tooth enamel and if not dealt with, can result in decay or cavities over time. Prevent damage to baby teeth by giving your child water over juice, limit snacking, and giving treats in moderation.

Our pediatric dentist can also apply dental sealants to your child’s back molars for extra protection in addition to daily brushing and flossing. The process of brushing on the thin, colorless coatings only takes a few minutes and is completely painless.

Setting a Limit on Sweets

It’s a well-known fact that sugar can be addictive. As humans, we are born predisposed to wanting sweet things and even as adults it can be hard to quell cravings.

Children can have sugary foods in moderation or on special occasions, but they should not be enjoying them multiple times a day, every day. It is also important to encourage teeth brushing after a sugary food item is consumed toreduce your child’s cavity risk.

So, how do you limit the number of sweets your children eat? It’s easier than you think. It is crucial, however, that you remain firm and do not regularly give in to your child’s demands for sweets. Rewards can exist of course, but sugary foods shouldn’t be a central part of their diet.

A few helpful tips to limit your child’s sugar intake include:

Stocking up on low-sodium, low-sugar, and low-fat products at home
Focus on serving more fruits and vegetables during the day
Cooking more at home so you have control over what is served
Packing healthy snacks for times when you and your family are away
Eliminate or greatly reduce sugary drinks like sodas, juice, etc.

Feel free to also ask our dentist while you’re in our Saginaw, MI, pediatric dental office for additional pieces of advice! We’re dedicated to making sure your child’s smile remains healthy so we’re more than happy to make it easier for you at home.

Healthy Food Recommendations

When you walk through the aisles at the grocery store, it can feel a bit overwhelming. You know you need food for weekly meals but are unsure of where to start. There are so many options to choose from and your child is likely to point to all the sugary products.

For a balanced diet, it is best to focus on acquiring foods from 4 major categories. Those include fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, and lean proteins. Think of that quintessential food pyramid and try to check off something from each layer when shopping at the grocery store. The general recommendation is to have half of the plate be some mixture of fruits and veggies, ¼ whole grains, and another ¼ protein. Including a variety of these components will not only satisfy your child’s growing body but improve oral health as well.

Promote healthy teeth and gums at home with foods such as:

Oatmeal
Whole wheat bread
Brown rice
Fruits and vegetables (i.e., oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, peas etc.)
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products
Lean beef, skinless poultry, or fish
Eggs
Beans
Nuts and seeds

Make an Appointment

If you set up your child’s smile for success, they’ll thank you later! Our pediatric dentist in Saginaw, MI, knows how hard it can be to prioritize healthy eating and proper oral hygiene practices, especially when children are so young. With that said, it’s well worth the effort. Call Great Lakes Bay Pediatric Dentistry today at (989) 792-9201 to request an appointment and we can talk more!