Aside from the practice of proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, we should also pay attention to the food we eat as nutrition plays a vital role on the health of our teeth. Many parents who are concerned about the dental health of their children often ask what the best types of food to give them. Below are some dental tips and suggestions by Corona kids’ dentists.
- Give your children fruits and vegetables and avoid giving them snacks that are packed with carbohydrates. You can give them pears, melons and cucumbers as they have high water content. Fruits with high amount of sugar should be given in moderation; examples are raisins and bananas.
- Cheeses like cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack assist in the production of saliva which helps in keeping food particles away from teeth.
- Give your children fruits and vegetables and avoid giving them snacks that are packed with carbohydrates. You can give them pears, melons and cucumbers as they have high water content. Fruits with high amount of sugar should be given in moderation; examples are raisins and bananas.
- Cheeses like cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack assist in the production of saliva which helps in keeping food particles away from teeth.
- If possible, do not let your young kids munch on sticky and chewy foods. These include oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly beans and syrup. If you wish to serve these foods to your children, make sure that they brush their teeth after consuming them for these have a tendency to stick to teeth.
- It is best to serve sweets after eating a main meal. Since the mouth increases its production of saliva after a meal, the sweets that are eaten after consuming a meal will be washed away by the saliva.
- If possible, limit the snack times of your children to once or twice each day. This will allow more time for the saliva to wash away food particles and also prevent bacteria in the mouth from having access to food.
- Don’t let younger children who are still bottle feed sleep with a bottle.
- Make it a practice to give your child water and not colored drinks such as sodas, juices or milk which contain sugar. Water is sugar-free and can wash away food particles.
- It is best to serve sweets after eating a main meal. Since the mouth increases its production of saliva after a meal, the sweets that are eaten after consuming a meal will be washed away by the saliva.
- If possible, limit the snack times of your children to once or twice each day. This will allow more time for the saliva to wash away food particles and also prevent bacteria in the mouth from having access to food.
- Don’t let younger children who are still bottle feed sleep with a bottle.
- Make it a practice to give your child water and not colored drinks such as sodas, juices or milk which contain sugar. Water is sugar-free and can wash away food particles.
- Regularly feed your children with food that is high in calcium, which helps build stronger bones and teeth. Examples are broccoli, yogurt and milk.
- Brush your child’s teeth after a meal or at least two times each day. Teach your child how to rinse his mouth so that he can do it on his own when you are not around to brush his teeth. Choose toothpaste with fluoride which helps prevent tooth decay. Make it a habit to floss at least once a day.
- Make sure that your child brushes his teeth after taking a medication made of syrup because some medications have a high amount of sugar.
- Take your child to a dental specialist as soon as he reaches the age of one or six months after his first tooth has erupted. All Smiles Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry in Corona provides dental care for infants, children, teens and adults.
- Brush your child’s teeth after a meal or at least two times each day. Teach your child how to rinse his mouth so that he can do it on his own when you are not around to brush his teeth. Choose toothpaste with fluoride which helps prevent tooth decay. Make it a habit to floss at least once a day.
- Make sure that your child brushes his teeth after taking a medication made of syrup because some medications have a high amount of sugar.
- Take your child to a dental specialist as soon as he reaches the age of one or six months after his first tooth has erupted. All Smiles Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry in Corona provides dental care for infants, children, teens and adults.