A healthy diet contributes to the health of your entire body, including the mouth. Your child’s nutrition will impact many aspects of their oral health for years to come, including developing cavities, defects in tooth enamel, and their risk of developing conditions such as periodontal disease and oral cancer.
We encourage you to ensure that your child eats a variety of foods from the five major food groups, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and to limit your child’s snacking between meals. If your child needs a snack, provide them with something healthy, and limit their intake of sugary or starchy snacks. A few examples of healthy snacks are vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese.
We also recommend that you do not give your child foods, snacks, or treats that remain in the mouth for long periods of time. For example, hard candy and breath mints are often sucked on and provide a food source for bacteria and harmful acids, exposing your child’s teeth to damaging conditions for longer periods of time.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s diet and nutrition, we welcome you to contact our office to speak with our pediatric dentists.
