Nutrition and Dietary Habits
Kids that want healthy teeth can be assisted in their goal by having a healthy diet and proper nutrition. While your little ones mouths, bodies, and minds are still growing, they need every bit of help they can get. Hines Little Smiles specializes in pediatric dentistry in Columbus; we are prepared to help educate you on how important nutrition and dietary habits are for your child. Take a moment to learn more about it below!
Why Is Nutrition and Dietary Habits Important?
Your child’s mouth (teeth, bones, and soft tissue) require a well-balanced diet to be healthy. With an imbalanced and unhealthy diet, your child can end up with cavities and numerous oral health problems; not to mention overall health problems. Nutrition and dietary habits are an often overlooked aspect of oral health.
What Nutrition and Dietary Habits Should My Children Follow?
Ideally, your child should be eating a variety of foods from the five food groups. This will help ensure that they’re receiving the nutrition their body needs to grow healthy and strong. Ideally, you’ll want to offer your children healthy meals and then give them an option of snacks that are beneficial to their health such as cheeses, yogurts, and vegetables.
What Foods Should My Child Avoid?
It would be difficult to name all the foods and drinks you and your child should avoid for your dietary habits. Empty calorie foods like chips or soda should be avoided entirely or consumed rarely since there is little nutritional benefit there. Other foods that are hard, sticky, or high in sugar content should ideally be avoided since they can cause damage to your teeth. Take a look below at the primer of food and drink types that should be avoided for your oral health:
- Ice: chewing on ice is one of the quickest ways to damage your teeth.
- Citrus and acidity: these type of foods (lemons, limes, oranges) erode away enamel and can irritate mouth sores.
- Coffee and tea: like citrus and acidic foods, coffee and tea can damage your enamel. It also dries your mouth out; saliva is needed to help protect your teeth.
- Sticky foods: candy, dried fruits, and other sticky food can get stuck to your teeth and damage them overtime.
- Crunchy and hard foods: chips and similar food can result in damage to your teeth when you crunch down on them too hard.
- Sugary foods and drinks: Soda and candy are two main culprits of tooth decay; its best to cut those out completely as they offer little to no nutritional benefit as well.
Schedule an Appointment
Nutrition and dietary habits are a big factor of not only your child’s oral health, but their overall health is well. We hope that you and your child will practice good nutrition. If you are looking to schedule an appointment for your child, look no further than contacting Hines Little Smiles! You can also reach out to us should you have any questions regarding your child’s nutrition and dietary habits. Dr. Hines, Dr. Anderson, and Dr. Martinez, along with the team at Hines Little Smiles is proud to help you and your children in the greater Columbus area with all your dental needs!