Cavities are the most common dental issue faced by children, and this can be attributed to a number of factors. First, it’s no secret that kids don’t do a great job when brushing their teeth, and very few of them floss at all, let alone once a day. Still, many dentists argue that diet plays the biggest role in kid’s dental woes. The main culprit in foods that harm teeth is sugar: sugar feeds the bacteria naturally present in all mouths, producing acids that eat away at the enamel, or protective coating of teeth. Here are some foods that are murder on kid’s teeth, and that should be avoided whenever possible.
Soda
We have all heard that soda is bad for our teeth, but did you know just how bad it is? Not only does drinking pop bathe the teeth in bacteria-feeding sugars, but the damage can continue for up to forty minutes after the last sip! If your child simply can’t live without it, have him or her drink soda through a straw: this helps to allow the sugary drink to bypass the teeth entirely.
Refined Starches
Soda is an obvious one, but did you know that dome double-refined foods (think white flour) are also harmful to the teeth? Breads, crackers, and other starchy foods (even the organic ones) are carbohydrate-rich. These carbohydrates easily convert to sugar and lead to tooth decay. Especially avoid chewy or sticky starch products.
Fast Food
Fast food may be a quick and easy fix when cooking is just too time-consuming, but this food lacks the necessary vitamins and minerals that block tooth decay and is full of those refined carbohydrates mentioned above.
What foods are good for the teeth?
Of course, fresh leafy greens and vegetables provide the vitamins needed to keep kids healthy and strong. They also provide a rough surface to scrape teeth clean during chewing. In truth, most foods that you feel may be harmful or unhealthy for your child to eat probably are. For a comprehensive list of foods that are good and bad for the teeth, consult with your dentist.