It's back to school time... so what are you putting in your child's lunchbox?
There are far too many snacks and treats out there which are terrible for children's teeth, and can lead to a lot of oral health problems later in life. If you take a little time to select good tooth-friendly snacks for your child, they'll grow up with a better smile - and you'll avoid extra trips to the dentist too.
The Best Tooth-Friendly Snacks For Your Child
Generally speaking, you want to avoid snacks that are just processed sugar - like candy or kid's breakfast cereals. In addition, most bread-based snacks like breadsticks or pretzels are based in carbs that turn into sugar and aren't much better than candy.
1 - Cheese and other non-sweetened dairy
Cheese snacks like string cheese or cottage cheese are full of calcium, and calcium is good for the teeth. Plus these snacks have very little sugar, and aren't particularly sticky. Unsweetened yogurt can also be a good choice along these lines, although many children don't like the taste.
2 - Nuts
Nuts are a fantastic snack for growing children. They provide low-fat protein which is good for their bodies, and with no carbs. Plus the wide variety of nuts on the market means there's something for almost any child's tastes, and alternatives for most nut allergies.
Just please avoid sweet variations like honey-roasted nuts.
3 - Fibrous veggies or fruits
Fibrous veggies like celery and carrots are a perennial snack for a reason - they're healthy and they taste good. If you start your child on veggie snacks when they're young, they might not even develop as much of a taste for candy.
Fruit can also be a good snack, as it is reasonably healthy, although many fruits do have a lot of sugar in them. If possible, aim for fruits like strawberries or kiwis with relatively low sugar. Avocado is another great snack and is also technically a fruit!
Don't Forget Regular Teeth Cleaning!
No snack is completely harmless to your child's teeth if they aren't properly brushing and flossing. It's vital to help your child understand the importance of oral care, and brushing after every meal or snack.
Plus, they need to see a dentist at least once a year. A professional cleaning will always be more thorough than what you can do at home. If it's been more than a year since their last dental checkup, schedule an appointment with Plainsboro Dental Care: 609-799-4422 today.