Pediatric dentists can attest that instilling good brushing and flossing habits in children is just one aspect of maintaining their oral hygiene. To provide your kids with a lifetime of luminous smiles, it's also important to teach them healthy eating habits. Here’s what all parents should know about the link between diet and their children’s teeth, tongue, and gums. 

What Your Children Eat

Nutrients that contribute to strong, healthy teeth include calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin C. When a child's diet lacks these and other nutrients, it can affect everything from tooth eruption to enamel strength. 

Low-fat dairy products, leafy greens, and almonds are good sources of calcium, whereas lean protein, nuts, and beans will provide your children with phosphorous. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruit, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes. 

Foods that can harm dental health, on the other hand, include sticky candy, starchy snacks, and carbonated soft drinks. Candy contains lots of added sugar. Your pediatric dentist will advise against chewy varieties, in particular, because they tend to get stuck in all the teeth's nooks and crannies, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Starchy morsels like potato chips and bread can also stick to the teeth, while soda is loaded with both sugar and citric acid. The former feeds bacteria, and the latter causes enamel erosion. 

When Your Children Eat 

When it comes to maintaining oral health, pediatric dentists must often remind parents that when their children eat is just as important as what they eat. For example, if you put your baby down for bed with a bottle that contains anything other than water, their teeth will be exposed to sugar all night long, which can increase the risk of early childhood caries. 

For older kids, it's wise to limit snacking between meals. The mouth tends to produce more saliva at mealtime, so it can effectively rinse away food particles and bacteria. If your children snack throughout the day, though, their teeth will constantly be exposed to acid-producing microorganisms, which will ultimately cause decay. 

In addition to providing balanced meals, protect your children’s oral health by taking them to Pedodontic Associates. With two offices on Oahu and one on Maui, this full-service pediatric practice is equipped to care for even the fussiest patients. Their warm and welcoming team knows how to make every appointment an adventure so kids enjoy undergoing teeth cleanings and other dental work. To learn more about their knowledgeable pediatric dentists, visit their website. To make an appointment on Oahu, call (808) 735-1733 for Honolulu or (808) 487-7933 for Aiea. To schedule an exam at their Maui practice, call (808) 877-0066 for Kahului.