HARMFUL FOODS CHILDREN’S TEETH

Preventative dentistry is the best kind of dentistry, especially when it comes to children’s teeth. If you teach your children good dental care habits, they are more likely to enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth. Preventative dentistry doesn’t mean just proper brushing and flossing and regular visits to the family dentist–it also means eating a tooth-healthy diet. Here are some tips for avoiding foods that can be harmful to your children’s teeth.

Sugary Foods

This is the most common type of food people think about when they are asked about foods harmful to children’s teeth. Sugary foods and beverages are an important source of potential damage to children’s teeth because they provide food for bacteria that convert sugar into acid. Remember that this category includes not just cake and candy bars, but fruits and some vegetables as well. Fruits are an essential part of a healthy diet, but they can be hard on teeth, especially fruit juices and dried fruits. And remember that starches are easily converted into sugars in the mouth, so it’s important to limit the amount of starchy foods children eat as well.

Acidic Foods

Acidic foods can also attack your child’s tooth enamel. This can lead to erosion or softening of teeth. As with sugary foods, this category also includes many types of fruits and vegetables.

You can limit damage from acidic foods by encouraging your child to drink a glass of water after consuming them to remove acid from the mouth and establish a pH that is healthier for teeth. Brushing teeth right after eating acidic foods can lead to damage.

Sticky Foods

Many kids love sticky foods and candies like taffies or cakes with caramelized sugar. Even breads and pizza crust can fall into this category. These foods cling to children’s teeth and result in an extended release of acids by bacteria that can feed over prolonged periods. To limit damage, have children clean their teeth after eating sticky foods.

And remember, eating habits can be as important as the actual foods when determining the damage that might be done to children’s teeth. Limit snacking between meals, encourage drinking of water rather than soda, and get your kids to the dentist for professional tooth cleaning regularly.

For an appointment with a family dentist in Barrie, please contact Chapnick Dental today.