When it comes to trying to provide a healthy diet for your child it can be a bit of a minefield, especially when you discover that so-called ‘healthy’foods turn out be full of sugar. Many popular snacks and drinks are high in sugar and can consequently be damaging to milk teeth. Popular examples include fruit juice, raisins and fruit smoothies.
- Fruit juices can be counted as one of children’s five a day but they have high sugar content so they can be harmful for the teeth. Lots of fruit juices contain added sugar so try to avoid those products and go for juices that have no added sugar. If you do use fruit juice, try to dilute it with water.
- Fruit smoothies: shop bought smoothies, like fruit juices, can include lots of added sugar so try to make them at home (this is also a fun way to get kids involved in food preparation and it can also be a great way to encourage them to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables). Fruit contains natural sugars but these are not as damaging as added sugar and artificial sweeteners.
- Raisins are widely regarded as a healthy snack but they are actually covered in sugar. It is better to encourage children to eat fresh fruit, rather than dried fruit as the sugars are natural and sugar content is usually much lower.
Many other popular foods are also high in sugar. Most people know that cakes, sweets, biscuits and chocolate are bad for the teeth but an increasing number of parents are giving children sweet treats on a daily basis, rather than using them as occasional treats and consequently rates of decay amongst young children are getting higher.
Fizzy drinks are also very damaging for milk teeth. Fizzy drinks are high in sugar and can be very acidic, which contributes to tooth erosion, a chemical process which causes the enamel surfaces of the teeth to become worn and weak. The enamel covering of the tooth serves to protect the rest of the tooth and, once damaged, the tooth is susceptible to erosion and decay.
What foods are good for teeth?
Healthy eating is really important for general health, as well as oral health and it is important for children to get used to a health, varied diet as early as possible. Foods that are beneficial for the teeth include:
- Calcium-rich foods: calcium is essential for strong teeth, nails and bones. Good sources of calcium include yoghurt, milk, cheese and butter.
- Water: water contains fluoride which helps to strengthen the teeth, and it also has numerous other health benefits and contains no sugar.
- Raw, fibre-rich foods: raw foods help to massage the gums and also have a range of other health benefits. Examples include raw carrots and celery, cucumber, apples and oranges.
- Fruit and vegetables: fruit contains natural sugar but it also contains a range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, which are essential for growth and development. Try to ensure your child has five portions of fruit and vegetables each day; most of these should be made up of vegetables.
Snacking
How often children consume sugar can actually be more important than how much sugar they consume. Eating sugar on a regular basis means that the enamel surfaces of the teeth are weakened for a long period of time, making them susceptible to harmful bacteria and plaque acids. If your child is having a sweet treat, try to ensure they eat them at mealtimes and avoid giving them sugary snacks between meals and before bedtime. Try to encourage them to drink a glass of milk or water to neutralise the acid in the child’s mouth. This will help to reduce the risk of tooth erosion.
Eating or drinking sugary foods before bedtime can be detrimental because the teeth are weaker during the night. Try to encourage children to have their bottle around an hour before they go to bed and then brush their teeth just before they go to bed.