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What is a healthy children's diet to prevent cavities?
The foods and beverages children consume each day can have a significant impact on their oral health. While brushing and flossing remain important, nutrition also plays a major role in cavity prevention. Choosing tooth-friendly foods, limiting frequent exposure to sugars, and encouraging healthy beverage choices can help strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of tooth decay throughout childhood.
How Diet Affects Your Child's Teeth
The foods and beverages children consume play a major role in oral health. Frequent exposure to sugars and starches provides fuel for cavity-causing bacteria, while nutritious foods can help support healthy teeth and gums.
Foods That Support Healthy Teeth
Many foods can contribute to oral health by providing important nutrients or stimulating saliva production. Examples include fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean proteins, nuts, and foods rich in calcium and phosphorus. Sticky foods, processed foods and those high in carbohydrates and sugars are at most risk of contributing to cavity formation.
Drinks That Are Better and Worse for Teeth
Water is generally the best beverage choice for oral health. It helps rinse away food particles, supports saliva production, and may provide fluoride depending on the local water supply. Milk can also provide important nutrients that support tooth development. That being said, milk can erode enamel if left on the teeth overnight once a child has moved beyond a milk-exclusive diet. Frequent juice consumption, sports drinks, soda, and energy drinks can increase cavity risk when consumed frequently. More frequent exposure often has a greater impact on cavity development than the amount consumed at one time. If consuming a sugary beverage, drinking or rinsing with water afterward can buffer acidity and wash away sugars, reducing risk of cavity formation.
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