There are many foods that are good for oral health, as well as several that aren’t so good. A healthy diet isn't just about the good foods you eat but also avoiding certain foods too. Knowing which foods to avoid or eat in moderation can save your family’s smile and potentially from unplanned trips to the dentist. Here are some foods that your family should limit or try to avoid to ensure your oral health for years to come…
Limit The Amount Of Hard Candy Kids Eat.
Kids love hard candies, such as jolly ranchers and lollipops. These may not seem harmful, but they can be in a few ways. The most common is tooth decay, this occurs due to the teeth being constantly exposed to the dissolving sugar. Another way they can be harmful is their ability to chip or crack teeth when bitten. For this reason, we recommend that you limit the amount of hard candy your children eat, as well as teach them not to bite into them if they do.
Moderate Your Child’s Citrus Intake.
Many kids enjoy citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, as well as beverages such as limeade or lemonade. While vitamin C is a much-needed source of nutrients for kids, too much citrus food can lead to tooth decay. As well as damage to tooth enamel due to the high acidity. We definitely agree that citrus fruits are important in your child’s diet, just as it is important to ensure that they don’t consume too much. Drinking lots of water is a good way to wash away some of the acids, as well as brush their teeth.
Teach Your Children To Avoid Chewing Ice!
Some kids chew ice, sometimes out of boredom or nervous habit. Many people don’t think of it as damaging to their oral health, even though it can be. They often think it is only frozen water so it doesn’t contain sugar, it must be safe. Ironically, the reason ice isn’t safe is that it is frozen and hard. Biting down on anything hard can risk damage, but the cold temperatures actually increase the risk of your child’s teeth cracking or chipping. We recommend avoiding this habit altogether.
Limit Sticky Foods In Your Family’s Diet.
When most people think of healthy foods, usually dried fruit is one that comes to mind! Yet dried fruit and other sticky foods can be your mouth’s worse nightmare. Their sticky nature makes them hard to get off sometimes. It is important to always brush soon after to clean your teeth of their equally sticky debris! Flossing helps a lot too, especially in the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. We don’t suggest completely avoiding these snacks, we believe limiting them is the healthiest approach.
Sodas Should Only Be Given As Special Treats For Kids!
We recommend that our parents limit the number of sodas that they give their children, especially from a young age. The high amounts of sugar and acid in sodas can wreak havoc on your child’s teeth, increasing their risk of tooth decay. We suggest that they are given as treats on special occasions for kids, as soda in moderation is not as harmful. The carbonation in soda is also damaging to teeth over time, limiting your child from a young age will help develop their good oral habits for life.
Limit Sports Drinks Even For Competitive Athletes
Many parents think the biggest dangers sports pose to their children are on the field or sports emergencies. However, for some athletes, it's what they consume on the sidelines. Sports drinks are loaded with sugar, just like sodas. They are often implied to be healthy, but are very harmful to your child’s oral health when consumed in excess! During high-intensity sports competitions we think they can be a vital source of electrolytes, as well as several of their lower-sugar competitors. However, consuming them regularly or in high quantities can be detrimental to your child’s teeth. In fact, most of these products often contain more sugar than the leading soda drinks. These sugar overloads can also affect your child’s long-term overall health as well, so allow in moderation.
We know that your child’s diet is important, especially for their oral health! This is why we believe our parents should have the knowledge to make healthy decisions for their families. If you are curious about more foods your family should limit or avoid or mouth-healthy recipes for your family to enjoy at home and on the go, feel free to contact us.
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