Tooth Friendly Foods

Submitted by Stella Morgan on July 12, 2007

How kids love the sweet taste of candies and chocolates that are part of their snacks during the day. In fact, they would always request that their food and drinks be as sweet as possible to satisfy their sweet tooth, goaded more by what they watch on TV. Unfortunately, it is their teeth that bear the brunt of these sweets.

It is not always easy to monitor what your children eat especially at school. Although you may pack them healthy foods like fruits for their snacks, chances are they do not eat it or trade it for something that they want.

What you can do is to educate your kids on the importance of eating healthy foods and what sweets can eventually do to their teeth. Also, practice eating healthy at home and keep those sweets restricted to meal times only. Water should be kept available at all times during the day.

Eating a well balanced diet contributes to a healthy body and healthy teeth. Teaching your kids to do the same is better through practice and example, instead of just telling them to do it. Healthy eating does not only benefit your children’s body and teeth but your body and lifestyle as well.

What types of food are right for your child’s teeth to grow properly? Everything from the major food groups are needed to form a well balanced diet. It is usually the excess especially of carbohydrates, such as sugar and starch that harms the health of the teeth.

Too much carbohydrate in the diet may lead to an increase in tooth decay. The bacteria found in the oral cavity feeds on the starch that is left on the teeth. These bacteria then produce acids that eventually penetrate the enamel of your child’s tooth. When the enamel of the tooth has been breached, it will be easier for the acid to destroy the whole tooth until it reaches the nerves. It is then that the child will complain of having a toothache.

When people talk of carbohydrates, the first thing that comes into mind are candies, cookies, chocolates, pastries and other sweet stuff. But these are not the only food stuffs that contain sugar. Milk and peanut butter also contain sugar. This is why bottle feeding babies during the night is being discouraged after their teeth come out because this has the tendency of destroying the first teeth of the baby. The sugar in the milk that stays in the teeth after bottle feeding will eventually harm the enamel of the teeth of the child.

The best foods to give a child in order to maintain healthy gums and teeth are fruits and vegetables especially those with a lot of water content such as pears, celery, melon, and cucumber. Cheese is also good since it makes saliva flow more, washing away the food particles in teeth. Lessen the consumption of sticky gooey chewy foods like raisins, caramel, syrups, since it sticks to the teeth and it is hard to get rid of them. Sugar treats should be given as a dessert and not as a snack so as to facilitate its easy removal. Encourage your kids to drink lots of water since it is not only good for your teeth but for the whole body as well. And always remember to brush your teeth properly with a fluoride containing toothpaste at least three times a day or after every meal. Don’t forget to floss too!