Keeping your kids fed with a variety of healthy meals and snacks can be a serious challenge, but it’s common knowledge that including tooth-friendly foods has numerous benefits for the development of strong teeth and long-term oral health. 

With that said, consider the following categories of mouth-healthy foods, all of which can support your child’s smile while still delivering in terms of variety, flavor, and fun.

The power of crunchy fruits and veggies.

Fruits and veggies might seem like an obvious choice for healthy snacks, but they’re also beneficial in ways you may not initially consider. The water and fiber content help wash away bits of food that get left behind, preventing tooth decay. They also stimulate saliva production, which has natural antibacterial effects.

Options, like carrots, celery, and cucumbers are exceptional mouth-healthy foods, as are crunchy fruits, like apples. All of these snacks help wash away the left-behind foods that feed the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. They also make for excellent side dishes for a wide range of hearty family dinners.

Dairy Delights for Strong Teeth

Many dairy products make for fantastic tooth-friendly foods due to their exceptional nutrient content. Milk and other dairy products are loaded with calcium, which is essential for strong smiles and bones in general. They also contain vitamin D, which plays a key role in absorbing calcium and phosphorus from food.

Milk is definitely a healthy drink choice, even if you go with chocolate or strawberry varieties, and yogurt and cheese make for quick and easy snack choices for kids who are always on the go. If your child is lactose intolerant, there are also many plant-based alternatives that have comparable levels of calcium and vitamin D.

Calcium Heroes: Building Blocks for Healthy Teeth

The physical structure of tooth enamel is made up of calcium compounds, but enamel is constantly worn away by acid produced by bacteria. Calcium, therefore, is an essential nutrient for the development and maintenance of your child’s strong teeth.

There are plenty of options you can pursue to improve your child’s dietary calcium. Dairy products of all kinds are excellent, as detailed above, as are alternatives made from nuts or soy. Almonds, sesame seeds, and other similar foods can also contain high calcium levels, along with leafy greens such as kale and spinach or broccoli, which also support immunity.

Super Snacks for Happy Teeth

In general, snacks tend to be more of a challenge compared to meals when it comes to finding mouth-healthy foods for your children. The simple fact of the matter is so many snacks are unhealthy—in more ways than one—and are often detrimental to a healthy smile.

By planning ahead, though, you can choose healthy snacks for your kids. Options, such as whole-grain crackers can be a great alternative to chips or cookies. Various crunchy nuts and seeds are highly nutritious and less likely to leave bits of food behind. If you’re choosing from the wide range of more processed snacks, make sure to spring for sugar-free varieties.

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction, the Healthy Way

Sugary foods provide the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease easy access to a constant stream of energy. These foods are also often sticky, leaving behind additional food sources for bacteria to thrive and grow. Still, there are options that can satiate your child’s sweet tooth while still remaining mouth-healthy foods.

Fresh fruits are tooth-friendly foods that are often very sweet; berries, in particular, can be an excellent choice. Dark chocolate can help satisfy cravings while being much healthier than its other forms. You can also choose to make treats, such as cookies, at home and reduce the sugar content yourself.

Don’t overlook the importance of a oral hygiene routine.

A proper oral hygiene routine is necessary even if your child sticks to tooth-friendly foods. Brushing twice a day and flossing removes bits of food stuck on and around teeth while also helping prevent plaque and tartar development, which significantly accelerate tooth decay when they take hold.

Fluoride in toothpaste also helps remineralize enamel to prevent tooth decay. You might also consider choosing a fluoridated mouthwash for your child for even greater protection. You can always ask your dentist about your child’s oral hygiene routines and additional steps you can implement to protect their smile.

Keep up with routine visits to your family dentist near Anchorage, AK.

A healthy diet and proper oral hygiene are essential to your child’s oral health, but so is keeping up with routine dental visits. Preventive care helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and regular dental evaluations help identify issues before they get out of hand. Book your child’s next appointment at Valley Dental Clinic today to promote healthy development and strong smiles.