A balanced diet is essential for the growth and development of children. A healthy diet supplies all the nutrients a child needs to grow. It includes the major food groups like Fruits and Vegetables, Carbohydrates, Dairy products, and Protein. A healthy child will grow up to be a healthy adult. Taking care of the teeth is just as important. In this article, we have mentioned the points that should be taken care of for the best oral health.
How Does A Child’s Diet Affect Their Dental Health?
A child’s health depends on the foods they eat. This applies not only to general health but to oral health too. A diet high in sugar, carbohydrates, and starches will break down the enamel and weaken the tooth. Natural sugars from fruits have a complex structure and take longer to break down acids in the mouth. Processed sugar and snacks like candies, jellybeans, and gummy bears stick to the tooth and cause decay. Acidic foods like fizzy beverages and vinegar can also cause the enamel to break down, thus making the tooth more vulnerable to decay.
Foods like soda, cereals, candies, chocolates, cookies, etc. should be avoided for optimum oral health. It is understandable that children will not be able to avoid such foods. This is the reason why 23% of children from ages 2 to 11 have dental cavities. Cavities, tooth sensitivities, and grinding are some of the most common children’s oral health problems. A child should be taken to a dentistry within 6 months of the first tooth erupting and for an oral check-up twice a year.
How Can a Child’s Diet Be Made to be Safe for Their Teeth?
Every parent should provide their kids with a healthy diet that includes veggies. Leafy greens, like spinach and kale, are high in calcium which strengthens the enamel. Dairy products, especially yogurt contains protein and probiotics that eliminate cavity-causing bacteria and promote gum health. Chewing raw fruits and vegetables helps strengthen gum. The high water content also washes away bacteria harmful to the tooth. Apples, Cucumbers, Melons, and Celery are high in fiber and also phosphorus, which increases saliva.
Lean meats and nuts are also a great choice for children’s oral health as they are high in calcium and protein, but low in sugar. If the child faces oral problems even after such cautions it is essential to visit a children’s dentistry in San Antonio for a periodic oral exam.
What are the Guidelines for Consuming Sugary Foods?
San Antonio children’s dentist recommended that children aged 2 to 18 should consume less than six teaspoons of sugar per day. While children below 2 years of age should have no sugar at all. However, it is advised to reduce the sugar intake by 10% for all ages.
In the end, sugar consumption depends on the dietary need of the child. Factors like health problems, dietary needs, and activities determine how much sugary food a child can handle.
Does a Balanced Diet Assure That the Child is Getting Enough Fluoride?
A balanced diet is just not for kid’s but for all ages. Fluoride is a mineral found in water and soil, is added to water, vitamin supplements, toothpaste, etc. It strengthens the enamel, thus preventing tooth decay, or Cavities.
Cavities are holes in the teeth that bacteria’s in mouth create. When your kid intake lots of sugary food or do not follow a proper oral hygiene routine- bacteria feed on the sugar, ultimately causing cavities These bacteria break down the enamel, which acts as an armor for the tooth. Fluoride prevents the acid from breaking down the enamel. It cannot reverse the effect of the acid, but it helps the tooth to repair itself. This also prevents new cavities from forming.
A balanced diet does not guarantee the child is getting enough fluoride. If the child only has bottled water, or if the tap water of the area is not fluorinated, the child may not get enough fluoride into it’s system. To counter this the child needs to be taken to a children’s dentistry, where they will be prescribed a fluoride toothpaste or a fluoride varnish.
We should also not ignore the harmful effects of fluoride. Too much fluoride can cause Fluorosis, which appears as faint white streaks on the teeth. It is noticeable and can be cured by a dentist.
Meet The Best Children’s Dentist In San Antonio
Sometimes you might notice that even after maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, the child is facing certain oral health issues. In that case, children should be taken to a dentistry immediately to avoid further damage. If you live in San Antonio visit our dental office & meet the best children’s dentist to provide your child with the best dental care. Our dentist runs a thorough oral exam for your kid to determine the oral health condition & will start on the treatment.
