Dental Treatments
Childrens Dentistry
Your Child's Diet
As parents are well aware, it can be difficult to know what to offer fussy eaters. You can spend hours contemplating the next meal only to find that your child wants something with minimum nutritional value. It can be upsetting.
Most importantly, you should try not to give in to the temptation of offering your child sweets or sticky foods. It’s important for the dental and general health that you consistently offer foods that provide your child with a good nutritional balance.
Try to include these healthy snacks:
- Fresh fruits
- Crunchy vegetables
- Dairy foods - cheese, milk or yoghurt
- Protein snack - slice of lean meat or hard boiled egg
- Breads - try rolls, flat bread or fruit bread
- Water or diluted juices
Saying this though, children do deserve a treat every once in a while. To minimise the risk of decay, make sure your child bushes or has a drink of water following a treat. Drinking will be similar to a rinsing action, it will dilute and dissolve any remaining sugar that has pooled around the teeth; it will also stimulate salvia flow which is natures best defence against bacteria causing decay.
Foods to avoid: Muesli and chocolate bars, potato crisps and oven baked savory biscuits, sweet drinks, doughnuts and cakes, lollies, honey and jams. Sweet or sticky foods that can get stuck in the grooves of the teeth are the most dangerous; their lingering effects can be destructive.
If you would like to know more about how you can assist your child in getting a good head start to oral health, please ask one of our team members during your next visit.
