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Back to School: Lunches that Tooth Friendly

Back to School: Lunches that Tooth Friendly

It is officially back-to-school 🏫 season, with many kids starting a new year or a new school. Often a major concern for children is, cavities and the most commonly asked question is, what can I give them that is going to stop cavities?

We, at Kings Family Dental Centre believe in prevention is better than cure.

Diet is a major factor is why children may develop cavities, that’s why healthy habits and lunches are very important to keep your children’s teeth healthy.

So, what are some things to incorporate into your child’s lunch and diet that can minimise the risk of cavities and improve oral health

Water:

Water is always the most preferred drink for children as it has no sugars and has great flushing action which can remove food debris and neutralise any acid in other food or drink.

If you’re a fan of juices, we always advise that fruit is always better than fruit juice as fruits juices such as orange juice contain acids that play a role in demineralising tooth structure

Fibre foods:

Food that contain fibre is amazing for the oral cavity as they help is flushing out debris and neutralising saliva. Fibres act like natures own toothbrush giving children’s teeth a second clean!

Examples: Carrot and Celery sticks

Milk and dairy products:  

Milk contains high level of calcium which is great for development and growth. Milk is a great alternative to the juices, although watch out for the flavoured milk as they contain high levels of sugar.

Nuts:

Nuts are a great snack as they contain all the essential nutrients and healthy fats without the risk of sugars.

Things to avoid

  • Fizzy drinks:

    the fizz in the drinks contain acid which can dissolve healthy teeth making it more brittle

  • Sticky food:

    Caramel and toffee-like food with high sugar contain are especially bad for teeth and act as a food supply for the bad bacteria

If you feel like this is not achievable for your circumstance, talk to your dentists about prevention treatment for your children to help them keep their teeth in the best shape possible

Hope this helps with the upcoming school 🏫 year!

Best of wishes to all our patients and their parents and remember if you need a dentist near kings langley & any more dietary advice, feel free to give us a call at 02 9674 3491