You may already understand that proteins, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin A are all important to your child’s oral health. But, what specific foods contain these all-important nutrients? What should you put in your shopping basket at the grocery store and what should you not?
If your child has developed a dental problem, you may want to see a dentist to be checked. For issues related to teeth and jaw alignment, a reliable orthodontist in Montreal can help with examination and treatment. However, if you’re only trying to protect your kid from such problems, the following diet tips can be an excellent starting point.
1. Make vegetables obligatory
The partiality for sweet foods is considered natural, but to some extent, it’s about what you introduce your kids to on a daily basis. Vegetables are rich in vitamins and can be a significant addition to dental health. Make your kid understand from a young age that greens are going to be mandatory in their diet.
2. Give them plenty of calcium-rich foods
Yogurt, skim milk, and other low-fat dairy products are rich sources of calcium – an essential mineral in building strong bones and teeth. Cheese not only contains calcium, delivers proteins and promotes the flow of saliva, but also forms a layer of protective coating to protect your child’s teeth from bacteria.
3. Do not overlook proteins
Proteins are not often mentioned in oral health discussions, but that’s not because they have no role in it. The nutrient helps strengthen your kid’s enamel and reduce the risk of cavities and corrosion. Include a lot of lean meats such as chicken, fish, and turkey in your kid’s weekly diet. Low-sugar peanut and nuts are more readily available sources of protein if you are on a tight budget.
4. Make apples your fruit of choice
Fruits are generally crucial to your oral health thanks to their relatively high vitamin content, but apples, in particular, are a gem you should seriously consider. Besides being rich in vitamins – an essential nutrient for overall health – apples can help scour off plaque and food particles from the surface of your teeth by just chewing the fruit. Carrots and celery offer the same property and should be considered as occasional alternatives.
5. Avoid starchy and sticky foods
Starchy and sticky foods such as granola bars, caramel, jelly beans and raisins are not suitable for kids’ oral health, and the reason may not be that straightforward. Well, saliva plays an important role in washing away food particles from the surface of your teeth and places you may not be able to clean with your toothbrush. The aforementioned foods stick to teeth and may prove hard for saliva to naturally do away with. This, in turn, causes sugar to sit on the surface of teeth putting your kid at risk of tooth decay.
6. Try green tea
Green tea is known to fight bacteria and neutralize the toxic products they leave in the mouth. Tea is also rich in fluoride, a substance well-known for its protective properties to enamel. Including green tea in your diet at least once every week can be a good way to minimize your child’s risk of cavities and bacterial infections.