Now that a brand new year is underway and resolution season is here, Speedway Pediatric Dentist in Indianapolis encourage you to make some resolutions related to kids’ healthy teeth. Let’s start the new year by encouraging kids to eat well and choosing foods that are good for a child’s dental health. Foods that taste good and are good for you? Imagine that.
Apples
An apple a day could keep the cavities away! Chewing apples and other crunchy, high-fiber fruits can scrub away the plaque from teeth. As a bonus, this fruit is full of vitamins and minerals and makes an easy snack.
Water with Fluoride
Drinking water with fluoride is essential for the health of your child’s teeth as early as birth. Almost all drinking water contains fluoride, but some bottled varieties do not. It is always a good idea to check to make sure.
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of calcium, protein, and vitamin D, essential minerals for oral health. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium, which builds and maintains strong, healthy teeth.
Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt
Milk, cheese, and yogurt are rich in calcium, casein, and phosphorus, protecting tooth enamel. The nutrients in milk products can neutralize some of the acid produced by plaque bacteria.
Celery and Carrots
Like apples, these crunchy vegetables contain much water and require much chewing, scrub tooth surfaces. The water and fiber in these vegetables balance the sugars and help clean teeth. Also, celery has fibrous strands, making this vegetable nature’s floss!
Broccoli and Green Leafy Vegetables
Thanks to their high level of vitamins and minerals, broccoli and green leafy vegetables can significantly benefit oral health. The folic acid found in leafy greens such as spinach and kale is known to help improve teeth and gums’ health.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds also make a great, mouth-friendly snack! Acids remove tooth enamel, and foods with high amounts of calcium and phosphorus, such as almonds, peanuts, and cashews, can protect teeth by replenishing those minerals.
Some foods to avoid or have in moderation:
Sugary Drinks
It’s no secret that too much sugar is damaging to your health and can cause cavities. Organisms feed on the sugar on your teeth and turn it into acid, destroying tooth enamel and causes decay.
Citrus Fruit and Juices
Citrus fruits are a source of Vitamin C and nutrients, and they are good for you in many ways. However, grapefruit and lemon, in particular, are highly acidic and can erode tooth enamel over time.
Chewy Candy
Eating tons of sugar is bad for tooth health, and the candy is full of it. It can cause cavities and get stuck in crevices in the tooth.
Chips, Bread, and Pasta
Starches made from white flour are simple carbohydrates. They break down into simple sugars in the body, which can lead to tooth decay. Eating chips for a snack is not recommended because they provide no nutritional value, and because the starch in them can adhere to teeth.
Dental health starts during infancy with your child’s first tooth. By teaching your child about healthy dental habits today, you can help prevent complicated dental conditions in the future through effective dental behavior management.
1. Regular Dentist Visits
It is recommended that children be taken to a pediatric dentist at one-year-old or six months after the first tooth comes in, whichever comes first. Children should have fluoride applications at the dentist every six months.
2. Flossing
Along with eating the right foods, it’s important to floss at least once per day. Flossing removes plaque from the areas between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.
3. Brushing Teeth
The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth at least twice per day to remove plaque. Your baby’s teeth need to be wiped clean after bottle feeding or nursing. Parents should use an infant toothbrush with a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste starting at age.
Make these foods and habits part of your resolutions for your kids’ healthy teeth, and your child’s smile will thank you for years to come! If you’re looking for a qualified pediatric dentist, schedule an appointment with Speedway Pediatric Dentist Indianapolis today. There’s no faster way to get your news year’s resolution on track!
