Anything that your children put in their mouths affects their oral health. It is very important to keep a close eye on what they eat to eliminate the risk of cavities or decay. Adequate dental health starts from your children’s diet, so it is immensely important to get in touch with a pediatric dentist to devise a perfect hygiene regime.
How Does Diet Link With Your Children’s Oral Health?
There is a popular saying; you are what you eat. Well, that’s true. Your kid’s health depicts what kind of nutrition you follow.
Here’s how their diet can also play a major role in your children’s dental health:
Sugary Foods
Foods and drinks with high sugar content increase the risk of tooth decay. Your kid’s oral flora has a balanced microbial content. When sugar combines with bacteria in their mouth, it produces an acid that eats away the tooth enamel.
With time, this leads to the most dreaded issue – cavities. Therefore, to protect your child’s teeth, limit their intake of sugary foods and drinks; encourage them to drink water instead and clean their teeth before bed.
Starchy Edibles
Foods high in starch, such as bread and crackers, greatly contribute to tooth decay. Starch breaks down, releasing sugar and soul food for harmful bacteria. This increases the risk of cavities. Reducing the risk and balancing starchy foods high in fiber and protein is best.
Acidic Foods
Acid-rich foods, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, can also take a toll on tooth enamel. Repeated exposure makes your child’s teeth turn sensitive, causing cavities and other oral health problems.
It is best to make this a habit for your kids’ to drink water after eating anything high in acidic quantities and limit their consumption of drinks like soda.
Vitamin and Mineral-rich Foods
Foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, for example, calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D help strengthen teeth and protect them against decay.
In this list, dairy products, leafy greens, and nuts are great sources of these nutrients, so be sure to include them in your kids’ diets.
Prevent Tooth Decay
As a general rule of thumb, make your children brush twice and floss at least once daily for adequate oral hygiene. If brushing between their meals is not possible and off the board, help them rinse their mouth with water several times.
You can easily prevent your child’s tooth decay by using toothpaste infused with fluoride every day. However, do this after the age of 2 so that they do not swallow toothpaste.
The good news is that you can reverse your toddler’s decay with fluoride in the early stages of decay. What fluoride application does is that it remineralizes the enamel surface.
These minerals help rejuvenate the outer layer and keep their teeth strong, which helps prevent tooth decay.
Final Words
In conclusion, what your kids eat and drink can greatly impact their oral health, so it’s important to encourage them to make healthy food choices.
Limiting sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and incorporating more nutrient-rich foods into their diets can help keep their teeth and gums healthy and strong.
Get in touch with a pediatric dentist to know more about the dos and don’t that can help you greatly. Dial (737) 444-2626 to get in touch with one at George Town Elite Dental in George town, TX.