Parents often find their kids eating out some unhealthy snacks. And what justification do you get for it – “they are too tasty”. Well, no doubt unhealthy snack definitely seems tasty, but that doesn’t mean you should keep eating them. Eating unhealthy food (snacks) should be avoided because they can cause tooth decay. Now you would definitely shoot a question – “What food is healthy for the teeth?”. Being a parent, it would be possible for you to avoid all the food that your kids are craving for. But there is a solution to it. Prepare a list of tasty, healthy food that would be good for the overall health and oral health of your kid.
#1 Eating Healthy Fruits, Fibers And Veggies
if you encourage your kids to eat food high in fiber, then it would help the mouth’s saliva to keep flowing, The flow of the saliva will generate defensive mineral that will help in preventing tooth decay. The best source of fiber is dried fruits such as dates, raisins, and figs. Apart from this, motivate kids to eat healthy fruits and vegetables like banana, apples, oranges, beans, Brussels sprouts, and peas, along with peanuts, almonds, and bran. For instance, you can prepare a fruit salad, vegetable salad for kids. They would love it.
#2 Consuming Eggs
According to the nutrition expert and dieticians, eggs are an excellent source of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. All of these minerals are best for maintaining oral health for your child. Vitamin D is quite essential as it will help in the absorption of calcium, which in turn would build and maintain strong, healthy teeth. All these minerals are also helpful in preventing tooth decay.
#3 Include Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt In Your Kid’s Diet Chart
The best food that helps in protecting tooth enamel is milk, cheese, and yogurt. They are quite rich in calcium, casein, and phosphorus. Milk is too good for kids as it is the best source of calcium and also helps in neutralizing some acid produced by plaque bacteria.
#4 Let Your Kids Know The Importance Of Whole Grains For Oral Health
Whole grains such as wheat, oats, rye, millet provide B vitamins and iron, which help keep gums healthy. Whole grains are also full of magnesium, which is quite essential for bones and teeth. Moreover, whole grains are rich in fiber which helps in strengthening gums. Look for foods such as bran, brown rice, and whole-grain cereals and pasta to be good sources of whole grains.
What Are The Food That Can Cause Tooth Decay And Your Kids Should Avoid
#1 Avoid All Kinds Of Sugary Drinks
You might be familiar with the fact that sugar can cause damage to the teeth and lead to tooth decay or cavities. Microorganisms present in the mouth feed on the sugar stuck on the teeth and turn it into acid. This in turn destroys tooth enamel and causes decay.
Acids and sugar are always present in the sugary drinks (soft carbonated drinks). This acid and sugar destroy the tooth enamel and lead to cavities.
#2 Citrus Fruit and Juices
Well, you might be wondering that how come fruits are bad for the teeth? Yes, you are right. citrus fruits are considered as the best source of Vitamin C and nutrients. They are also good for overall health. However, you need to focus on avoiding grapefruit, and lemon. Because they are highly acidic and can erode tooth enamel over time.
Also, avoid all kinds of ready-made fruit juices. They also have a high amount of sugar present in them. Encourage your kid to drink low-fat milk and water over juice if they are craving for it.
#3 Worst Of All – Chewy Candy
Consuming sugar in any form is just harmful to your teeth and when it comes in the form of candy – Just say no. Candies contain a lot of sugar and are acidic in nature. They easily get stuck in your teeth and around the gums and start damaging them slowly. If your kids can’t stay away from sugary candies, make them brush their teeth twice a day.
Summary
We have always heard elderly people saying that “ you are what you eat”. This is applicable even to your teeth and gums. You must know what you are eating and how it will affect your oral health. If you are not vigilant, you will have to suffer from various tooth issues at a young age.