Good nutrition plays a vital role in the development and ongoing health of your child’s teeth. The foods we eat have a direct effect on the health of our mouth, and the nutrients in the foods we eat also affect the growth of our teeth.

All the foods we eat and drink pass by our teeth and gums. Food particles can get stuck in between our teeth and gums after meals and snacks. Additionally, foods and drinks high in sugar can also lead to poor dental health and cause tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused when plaque (a sticky layer of germs in the mouth) comes into contact with the sugar from the food and drinks we eat, turning it into acid. This can gradually damage the teeth, leading to cavities.

That’s why it’s so important to brush and floss our teeth to remove any leftover particles and clear our mouth of any residual sugar (but take note: avoid brushing teeth immediately after eating, especially when eating foods high in sugar and acid, as you risk causing erosion to the tooth enamel as it is in a compromised state). Children are particularly vulnerable as their teeth are developing, as well as their dental hygiene habits. Establishing good dental habits as early as possible is imperative to maintaining a healthy mouth for our kids. To learn more about helping your child develop good dental hygiene, check out our Instagram Live with dentists, Dr Joe and Dr Cindy, via the following link: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSEX1k-lUrO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It’s equally vital to have a balanced diet to grow strong, healthy teeth. What we choose to eat plays a huge role in the health of our teeth. When it comes to dental health, the main culprit in the formation of dental cavities is sugar. All foods containing carbohydrates eventually break down into simple sugars: fructose, glucose, lactose and maltose. Fermentable carbohydrates, found in some foods, break down in the mouth (while others break down further along the digestive tract), and it’s these fermentable carbohydrates that come into contact with plague, causing decay. Foods to consider include the obvious high sugar foods, like biscuits, cake, lollies, juice, and full-sugar soft drinks. But there’s also less obvious foods, such as bread, bananas, crackers and breakfast cereals. This doesn’t mean that this last group of foods are unhealthy, but rather we need to be mindful of when we serve these foods, and ensuring good dental hygiene through brushing and flossing to remove any lingering traces of these foods.

Here are some additional helpful tips to choosing the best foods for optimal dental health:

- Have a healthy, balanced diet: choose fresh foods from all 5 food groups- fruit, vegetables & legumes, dairy, meat & meat alternatives, and grains & cereals.
- Limit foods and drinks high in sugar: as we know, the sugar in foods and drinks increase our risk of tooth decay. By reducing high sugar foods and fluids, we can help reduce the development of cavities. If your kids are having these food and drinks, encourage them to have at mealtimes, instead of in between.
- Have set mealtimes and reduce snacking: Studies have shown that those who eat sweets as snacks between meals have higher incidences of decay than those who eat the same amount of sweets with their meals. So, keeping foods and drinks to mealtimes is a great way to maintain great dental health, as more saliva is produced during a meal. Saliva helps wash foods from our mouth and decreases the effects of acids. This will help reduce the risk of tooth decay. In terms of snacking, the type of snack is more of an issue than snacking itself- consider how sticky the snack is, and how fast it is consumed. If you are serving snacks, choose fresh foods like vegetables, fruit and dairy products, rather than processed and pre-packaged items.
- Make tap water the drink of choice: tap water is readily available, has no sugar, and contains fluoride for added protection against tooth decay. Having a drink of water after meals and snacks also helps to rinse teeth.
- Choose foods that help fight against poor dental health:
> Dairy products: dairy products contain minerals such as calcium, casein and phosphorus that help protect tooth enamel. Research has shown that milk and cheese can help prevent tooth decay. Casein is a protein found in dairy foods and when combined with calcium and phosphorus, casein creates a protective protein film over the enamel surface of the tooth, reducing the risk of tooth decay. The tooth strengthening minerals, Calcium and phosphorus help strengthen teeth and repair them after acid attacks.
> Crunchy foods: foods like apples, carrots and celery have been recognised as good for teeth because they have a natural scrubbing effect on the teeth and disrupt plaque.
> Sugar substitutes: naturally occurring sugar substitutes, such as Xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol, can’t be processed effectively by the bacteria that produce cavities. These sugar alcohols are more natural than chemicals like aspartame, saccharin, or sucralose.

In summary, a healthy balanced diet low in high sugar and acidic foods, combined with good dental hygiene practices established at an early age, is your child’s best defence against tooth decay and growing strong, healthy teeth.

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