It’s no secret that children and even many adults crave sweet treats. Yet to maintain your child’s oral health, you need to limit their consumption of candy, cookies, and other foods with added sugars. Fortunately, some snacks can satisfy their sweet tooth and promote healthy teeth at the same time.

5 Healthy Sweets to Boost Children’s Dental Care

1. Apples

Fiber-rich foods like apples promote oral health by increasing saliva production. Saliva minimizes the effects of harmful acids that target enamel. Plus, saliva has calcium and phosphate, which help repair weak enamel through remineralization. Best of all, apples have a naturally sweet flavor children love.

2. Raisins

The next time your child is craving a sweet snack on the go, give them a small serving of raisins. While raisins once had a reputation for causing cavities, researchers have found that they actually don’t stick to teeth as long as foods like cookies and crackers. They’re also rich in phytonutrients, which help prevent plaque development.

3 Yogurt

Like fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, dairy products help generate saliva to support optimal oral health. Yogurt also contains calcium, which helps restore minerals in teeth. If your child is craving something sweet, look for Greek yogurt with all-natural sweeteners or real fruit.

4 Sugar-Free Gum

Some gums have high concentrations of added sugar. Fortunately, many sugarless varieties are available. If your child is old enough to chew gum and craves a bit of sweetness between meals, suggest a stick of sugar-free gum. It can also spur saliva production.

5. Dark Chocolate

Sticky sweets like caramel and lollipops tend to get stuck on enamel, allowing their sugars to sit on the tooth’s surface and cause more damage than foods that wash away more quickly.

Chocolate, on the other hand, tends to dissipate faster than other candy. Dark chocolate, in particular, is believed to have health benefits such as heart-protective qualities thanks to its high concentration of iron, copper, zinc, and other key nutrients.

If you’re looking for a team to help keep your children’s oral health on track, turn to Pediatric Dentistry Kahala. Serving Honolulu, HI, Dr. Allen K. Hirai has more than 24 years of experience and takes the stress out of dentist’s visits with his friendly office atmosphere. Discover more cavity prevention tips by visiting their website, or call (808) 737-0076 to schedule an appointment.