National Children’s Dental Health Month is the perfect time to think about the foods and snacks you are giving to your children. You can start serving more products that are good for their dental health.
It cannot be stressed too strongly that you should limit the amount of sugar your children eat. However, you will find many products that are sugary and sticky, other than candies and cakes. Raisins are one example. Raisins can stick to the teeth and increase your child’s risk of tooth decay.
Raw vegetables are healthier for your child’s teeth than many fruits. Introduce your child to the idea of eating fresh vegetables when he is hungry between meals. Slices of fresh cucumber, broccoli, celery, and carrots are all good snacks for great dental health.
Products that help your child develop strong teeth are also good snacks. One example is yogurt. Yogurt will provide calcium for strong, healthy teeth while giving your child the taste he enjoys. You can give him sugar-free yogurt, with or without fruit.
Cottage cheese is another product that is high in calcium. If you want to add extra flavor, you can add some sliced fruit or berries.
There are other snacks your child may love, but not realize it is good for his dental health. He can enjoy a wide range of nuts and seeds without harming his teeth. Pretzels can be salted or unsalted and served with peanut butter.
Depending on your child’s tastes, there are some other healthy snacks he can try. There are many kinds of cheese you can serve in chunks or slices. Cheese is another food that is high in calcium and contains no sugar.
While there are some children who dislike rice cakes, others consider this relatively new product to be a special treat. Rice cakes have few calories and nothing that will harm his teeth.
The American Dental Association wants parents to know the importance of healthy foods. Whether your child is a toddler or a teen, now is the time to encourage him to make good choices. He can have snacks during the day and better dental health.