Your baby’s smile is a precious sight, but tooth decay could turn it into a major headache. Even though a child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out, an unhealthy mouth could cause your child to have a difficult time speaking or chewing. You can maintain your child’s dental health by limiting or eliminating certain foods and drinks from his or her diet. Here are 5 foods to keep away to prevent tooth decay in children.
Sour candies have a much higher acid level than regular candy. This causes the enamel to deteriorate over time. If your child does have sour candy, have them wait about 30 minutes before brushing their teeth. Brushing right away will cause the acidic candy to cover more of the teeth’s surfaces.
3. Squeezable food pouches
Squeezable food pouches are full of sugar and can be harmful to the growth of your child’s teeth. These pouches contain about 100 grams of added sugar each, and they contain concentrated juices that are high in sugar as well.
4. Juices and Milk
We know about the harmful effects of sugar by now, but the acidity of fruit juice makes it twice as harmful. Apple juice is much more acidic than orange juice, and both can lead to teeth erosion. If your kid doesn’t like to drink plain water, try diluting juice with at least 50% water to help regulate the amount of sugar they ingest.
In addition to juice, be cautious of how much milk your child drinks. Milk left in the mouth overnight will become acidic. If they do drink milk, wipe his or her teeth before bedtime, and make sure if he or she falls asleep with a bottle to take it away.
5. Carbonated drinks
The amount of sugar inside soda is off the charts! Sugar levels in a can of soda can be close to that of a king-sized candy bar. Soda is also highly acidic and can contribute to cavities and cause tooth decay. If your child does drink soda, make sure to have them rinse their mouth out with water or mouthwash afterwards.
