Smart snacking for healthy teeth
It’s January and as ever at this time of year, the media inundate us with all sorts of conflicting dietary advice. Wonder diets, no-sugar, low-or no-carb, super foods, anti-snacking…The same is true for advice about what and how parents should feed their kids. I always think that the best advice has to be easy and practical to follow. So here, I want to share some smart snacking tips for healthy teeth.
How does a child’s diet affect their teeth?
Dental professionals advise that consuming large amounts of acidic food and juices are detrimental to teeth. The Ella’s Kitchen type of handy packaging means many toddlers are continually sucking on delicious, healthy sounding fruity snacks. The problem is that this constant exposure to acid and sugar can cause real damage to their baby teeth.
Not that I’m trying to demonise this type of product. In my view, they have their place and like most good dietary advice, it’s all about awareness and balance.
Smart Snacking Ideas:
Some top dentist tips:
- Make sure your child’s fruity snacks are eaten over a short period of time as part of a balanced meal
- Follow any sugary or acidic snack with a drink of water to help rinse their teeth, reducing the build up of bacteria that form plaque.
- If possible, encourage your child to brush their teeth soon after eating sugary food.
Our customers have said they find the Buddies toothbrush (www.buddiestoothpaste.com) handy for taking out and about with them. The toothpaste is contained inside the handle of the brush so it’s ready to dispense straight to the bristles of the brush when needed.
Final thoughts:
In conclusion, I know people who swear by never eating between meals and it seems to work for them. Not for me though. As for my kids, I’ve always encouraged them to ask for snacks between meals rather than help themselves. This way I can try to point them in the direction of healthier, less sugary snacks.
Clearly, it does become more difficult to monitor as they grow older. Hopefully, by then though, the groundwork will be set and they will make healthier choices for themselves (at least most of the time!)
