Big Teeth
Teeth for Life
Healthy Eating For Children
We hear so much about healthy eating and children these days but so little about what is healthy for the teeth. Sugary and acidic food and drinks are the ones to watch - and sometimes that means fruit and fruit juices. The best policy is to limit these to mealtimes so that kid's teeth aren't exposed to them for too long
For general good health, foods that are recommended include:
- Milk, cheese, yogurt, soybeans and tofu. These are all rich in calcium, which is good for teeth and bones.
- Fortified breakfast cereals, margarine and oily fish. All good sources of vitamin D, these foods will help keep up levels of calcium in the blood.
- Meat, fish, pulses (beans and lentils) and green vegetables. High in iron, these foods are good for maintaining healthy blood.
- Fish is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals while being low in saturated fat.
- Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are also full of beneficial Omega 3 acids.
- Citrus fruits (like oranges) have lots of vitamin C. But remember that this type of fruit is acidic, so while it's OK to snack on fruit between meals, it should not be in excessive amounts. Fruit juice should be diluted with water (1 part juice to 10 parts water) and limited to mealtimes.
- Milk, margarine, butter, green vegetables, carrots and apricots all contain vitamin A to keep skin and vision healthy.
Sugar Vs. Teeth
Children love sugar. But unfortunately, their teeth aren't quite so crazy about it.
The reason for this is that when we eat sugar, the bacteria that cause plaque on our teeth turn sugar into acid, which then attacks the enamel. Most of the time, the mouth's natural defenses and regular brushing mean this isn't a problem. But if your child has lots of sugary foods and drinks, or has them quite often, their teeth will be exposed to this acid for a lot longer. That's when decay can start to happen.
To avoid this happening, limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes if you can.Stick to fruit, vegetables, cheese, milk and water in between meals.