Dental Health and Nutrition for Happy, Cavity-Free Kids

Let’s be real here. Getting your kids to brush their teeth twice a day can sometimes feel like a battle. Ever found yourself sneaking into the bathroom to check if their toothbrush was actually used and smelled like toothpaste before bed?

February is a perfect time to highlight the importance of dental health to your kids. It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, and the message is crystal clear: taking care of your teeth matters.

But here’s something you might not have known; what you eat plays a big role too. Good nutrition can help prevent tooth decay, sparing you and your kids those dreaded trips to the dentist.

The American Dental Association advises brushing twice a day and flossing once daily. But remember, even with these good habits, certain foods can undo all your efforts and lead to cavities.

Your mouth is home to loads of bacteria, also known as plaque. This sticky film loves sugar. If you don’t brush after meals, the bacteria feast on the sugars, producing acids that can damage your teeth enamel. Eventually, this leads to tooth decay. That’s why it’s crucial to take steps to prevent it.

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Tips for Best Dental Health

Discuss these tips with your kids today and help prevent dental decay before it starts!

Limit foods with added sugar. Almost all foods contain sugar (fruits, vegetables, milk, bread, cereals, and even some vegetables). The key is to eat foods that give additional nutrients (also called nutrient-dense foods) and limit foods that are high in added sugars. Read the ingredients on packaged foods to identify added sugars.

Eat a balanced diet to get all the recommended nutrients. If your diet lacks certain nutrients, over time it may be difficult for tissues in your mouth to fight infections, which may contribute to gum disease and tooth loss in adulthood. Use the USDA MyPlate as a guide to creating balanced meals.

Limit sugary snacks in between meals. Each time you eat a sugary food, acid attacks the teeth for at least 20 minutes or more. Instead choose foods that are low in sugar such as cheese, raw vegetables, or plain yogurt.

Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm than snacks in between meals. You may be thinking what does timing have to do with it? The answer is saliva. More saliva is produced during a meal, which helps wash away food and decrease the effects of acids.

Drink plenty of water! Like saliva, drinking water can help to flush away food that may be stuck between your teeth, which can then prevent your teeth from being attacked by acid. Fluoridated water can protect your teeth from tooth decay. If you don’t have fluoridated water in your area, be sure to use fluoride toothpaste when brushing.

Replace sugary beverages (soda, juice, or sports drinks) with drinks that hydrate and give good nutrition, such as milk.  Never let children go to bed with a bottle of juice or milk because overnight the sugar can cause serious tooth decay.

Other Tips to Try

Maintaining healthy teeth isn’t just about what you eat. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to keep your pearly whites in top shape:

• Do not use tobacco, if you smoke look into quitting.

• Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes and floss daily.

• Visit your dentist at least once a year, preferably twice!

• Don’t forget to gently brush your tongue when you brush your teeth.

By emphasizing the importance of dental health and making small changes to your family’s diet and brushing routine, you can help ensure those battles over toothbrushes become a thing of the past, and your kids can enjoy healthy smiles for years to come.

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