If
there’s one thing that all dentists have in common, it’s that they
regularly see young patients with tooth decay. Roughly 41 percent of
children age 2—11 have had decay in their primary teeth, while
approximately 32 percent of children ages 9—11 have decay in their
permanent teeth.
According
to Marc Liechtung, DMD, principal in New York-based Manhattan Dental
Arts, there are many foods that can help or harm your child’s teeth.
Here are the Good and the Bad:
THE GOOD: Here are some foods, even “junk foods,” that can help with your child’s oral health:
•
Unsweetened hulless popcorn. This treat acts as a natural tooth
detergent in addition to being highly nutritious and loaded with
vitamins and minerals. Its calcium phosphorus supplies valuable minerals
and roughage and helps to exercise the teeth.
•
Chew gum with xylitol. It helps reduce bacteria which lead to tooth
decay. A few pieces of a gum such as Dentyne Ice leave no plaque-causing
sticky residue, changes the chemistry in your child’s mouth and can
actually help keep cavities away.
•
Cinnamon flavored gum. Cinnamon helps to reduce bacteria in your
child’s mouth. So gum like Orbit Cinnamon flavor may very well help
inhibit growth of cavity causing bacteria.
•
Sugar-free lollipops and hard candies. These treats stimulate saliva,
which prevents dry mouth. A dry mouth allows plaque to build up on teeth
faster, leading to an increased risk of cavities.
•
Sip sugary drinks through a straw. This helps your children to limit
the amount of contact the sugar has with the teeth.
• Foods that provide calcium and phosphates. Yogurt, milk and cheese can strengthen the tooth’s surface.
•
Dilute the sugars. Add water to the juice and crunch to the diet.
Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, celery and cucumbers have
high water content, which helps dilute the sugar and wash away food
particles.
• Some foods neutralize acids. Those include pears, apples and dairy, especially cheese.
• Raw nuts. These provide calcium and phosphates that can strengthen the tooth’s surface.
THE BAD: Here are some food-based causes of tooth decay in children:
•
Drinking from a bottle. When children drink from a bottle, the liquid
sloshes around their teeth and gums, and any drink with sugar in it will
increase the chance of decay. So only put milk and water in a bottle.
At bedtime, it’s especially important to put only water in the bottle.
That’s because prolonged exposure to the sugars in milk can cause
cavities too.
•
Sippy cups. Limit the amount of time that your child has a sippy cup
in her mouth, especially if it is filled with juices which are high in
sugars and acids. Try substituting water instead.
•
Gummy vitamins. Many children consume their sweet or gummy vitamins
after they brush their teeth, so the sugar remains on their teeth all
morning.
• Sour candies. High acid levels in these treats can break down tooth enamel quickly.
•
Sticky foods. Foods like Skittles, Starburst candies, gummies and dried
fruits linger on the teeth, giving the bacteria extra time to cause
damage.
•
Long-lasting sugars. Lollipops, Jolly Ranchers and cough drops allow
the sugar to remain in the mouth for a prolonged period.
•
Starchy foods. Foods like French fries, white bread and pretzels easily
lodge between teeth and are quickly converted to sugar by the
pre-digestive saliva.
•
Avoid powdery candy. Candies such as Pixie Stix, which dissolve quickly
and contain nothing but sugar, can lead to cavities by changing the
mouth pH and giving the bacteria pure sugar to feed on.
• Acidic foods and drinks. Such as soda and fruit juices eat away the healthy enamel of teeth.
The
foods that damage teeth have been shown to damage overall health, and
the foods that are favorable to teeth tend to be favorable to health. No
surprise. This is just one more reminder of why we should be teaching
our children early on the importance of eating well and avoiding sugars.
For additional information please go to www.ManhattanDentalArts.com .
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