Healthy Eating Habits
Foods That Help Keep Your Child’s Smile Healthy
Developing healthy eating habits early in childhood will help pave the way to a healthy lifestyle in the future. When children are taught early to make healthy choices, they will be more likely to continue to choose healthy options during meals. Developing healthy eating habits will also create a good foundation for making healthy lifestyle choices in the future.
Healthy Foods For Your Child’s Smile
Healthy eating habits begin with the parents and should include everyone in the household. All family members can benefit from eating more fruit and vegetables throughout the day. Here is a list of foods that pediatric dentists consider healthy and beneficial to add to your child’s diet. These foods contain vitamins and minerals which are important for strong teeth and gums:
Why Healthy Eating Habits Are Important
Proper nutrition through a well-balanced diet can make a substantial positive impact on the preventative care aspects of dentistry. Foods that are high in antioxidants help strengthen the body’s natural ability to fight off decay. Introducing young children to raw fruits and vegetables not only strengthens chewing muscles, but also helps to clean teeth by removing the bacteria that causes cavities on the surface of the teeth. Lean proteins found in chicken, turkey and fish help to strengthen tooth enamel. Consuming low-fat dairy products such as skim milk and cheeses provide an excellent source of calcium which also helps to build strong enamel.
Foods To Limit
Along with the good foods to incorporate into your child’s diet, there are foods to limit and possibly avoid altogether. Some foods and drinks may contain added sugar or citric acid which tends to weaken enamel and cause decay. Foods and drinks to limit include:
While these particular foods and drinks should be limited, it is possible to enjoy them occasionally. If you know that your child will be consuming candy, soda, cake and/or cookies (foods with a high amount of sugar), it will be beneficial to brush their teeth afterward or rinse with regular water. This will help to reduce the acid in the mouth and, thus, lessen the opportunity for decay.
What Is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in berries and certain vegetables. It is even used in chewing gum and toothpaste and has the ability to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay and gingivitis. Commercially, xylitol is usually extracted from corn cobs and trees.
How Does Xylitol Help Prevent Decay?
Typically, bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars which help them to grow and multiply. The byproduct of well-fed bacteria is acid, and acid is known to weaken enamel, allowing for the overgrowth of plaque and decay. The bacteria found in the mouth that typically cause decay are not able to consume xylitol. Therefore, the bacteria are not able to multiply and flourish. Xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause decay.
Xylitol can be found in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwash, and provides an extra measure in helping to ensure the environment of the mouth is not favorable for bacteria or decay. Xylitol also increases the production of saliva, especially when it is in the form of chewing gum. Saliva is nature’s way of neutralizing the pH of the mouth and naturally cleansing the teeth of food particles and excess sugar.
Helping Your Child Achieve Healthy Eating Habits
Our team at Pediatric Dentistry of Fredericksburg aims to equip parents and patients with the tools they need to develop healthy eating habits and have a healthy smile for a lifetime. If you are interested in learning more about healthy food choices for your children, call Pediatric Dentistry of Fredericksburg today at (540) 371-3222. You can also schedule an appointment by filling out our online appointment request form.