With the new school year rapidly approaching, it's time to start thinking again about school lunches and snack time. Did you know that your child's nutrition plays an integral role in their dental health? It's true!
Your Etobicoke dentist is here to offer excellent kids dentistry and some helpful tips and snacks to think about as the new school year rolls around. Here's what you should know.
What to Pack: The Best Foods for Your Child's Teeth
We know parents are busy! Keeping track of school needs and activities, along with extracurricular events, can feel overwhelming. We want to make it simple for you. So, here are some ideas on what you can pack for easy, quick, nutritional lunches and snacks that will fuel your child's brain and protect their oral health. Let's get started!
Protein Power
Lean protein items are an excellent choice because they don't contain sugars that fuel cavity-causing bacteria. Instead, they fill kids up and keep their brains happy and fueled for full function throughout the day. Here are some excellent protein lunch box items to choose from:
- Turkey, chicken, or other lunch meats
- Tuna, chicken, or egg salad
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Nuts and seeds
Pro Tip: Prepare items like hard-boiled eggs or tuna salad ahead of time so it's quick to grab when kids are heading out the door for school.
The Crunch Factor
Crunchy fruits and vegetables not only fuel your child, but they also protect oral health by increasing saliva flow and neutralizing the acids in the mouth that cause tooth decay and cavities.
Saliva is a natural protectant, as it helps balance the mouth's pH to protect against the acids and bacteria that cause decay. It also washes away excess food debris left over from meals.
Some crunchy fruits and vegetables that are great for lunch boxes are:
- Celery sticks
- Apple slices
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
Pro Tip: Cut things like apples, celery, and carrots into bite-sized pieces to make them easier to eat and help your child avoid damaging or cracking a tooth.
The Dairy Advantage
Dairy products offer a few oral health advantages. Cheese helps to balance the pH of the mouth, neutralizing the acids that cause tooth decay. Yogurt and milk contain calcium and phosphates that help to build and strengthen developing tooth enamel. Cheese sticks and travel-size yogurt are excellent choices for lunch boxes or snacks.
Pro Tip: Choose plain yogurt to help avoid an onslaught of unwanted sugars.
What to Avoid: The Worst Foods for Your Child's Teeth
There are several items to be aware of that may seem "healthy" or harmless, but may actually contribute to tooth decay.
Sticky or Gummy Snacks
Kids love those fruit snacks! But sticky foods tend to attach to teeth and "stick around" longer than they should. This gives them time to embed sugar into teeth and promote decay.
The same goes for starchy foods like chips and crackers. These may seem like a better choice, but starches also stick to teeth and eventually convert into sugars.
Healthy Traps
Parents should also beware of fruit juices, especially those that claim to be 100 percent juice. These items claim to be healthy, but typically have sugar added, and it can be detrimental to your child's teeth if they are sipping on juice all day long, bathing them in sugar.
Smart Strategies for Parents in Etobicoke
Here are some additional tips to help kids and parents make the best choices for healthy smiles.
Order of Operations
Teach your kids to eat their chips or crackers with a meal instead of as a standalone snack. This helps the particles get washed away with saliva or water throughout the meal. Choose nuts, fruits, or veggies for snacks during or after school.
The Power of Water
The powerful tool of drinking water throughout the day keeps your child's body and brain hydrated, while also protecting their oral health. Water keeps the mouth hydrated, protecting against a condition called dry mouth, which promotes cavities and tooth decay.
Water helps to wash away food debris left after meals or sticky, starchy items that want to attach to teeth. Water is also great for rinsing after meals, like lunch, when your kids can't brush their teeth.
Pack a reusable water bottle that your child can refill during the day, and that is better for the environment.
Is It Time for Your Child's Next Dental Appointment?
Let us help protect your child's oral health! Toronto Lakeshore Dental offers exceptional children's dentistry in Etobicoke that busy families can rely on. Consider booking your child's next dental checkup before school starts to avoid missing any critical class time. Otherwise, we offer convenient evening and Saturday appointments that can accommodate hectic school schedules.
Talk with our team when you call us at (416) 503-3335 or request an appointment online.