Any children's dentist will tell you that imparting good eating habits early on can go a long way toward preventing oral health issues later. But getting kids to eat healthy foods can often feel like an uphill battle. Fortunately, some foods not only taste great, but also make for healthy lunch additions, like the following three.

3 Tasty & Teeth-Friendly Lunch Ideas

1. Yogurt

Several manufacturers make kid-friendly yogurt in popular flavors and fun packaging. Yogurt is full of calcium and protein, essentials for healthy, strong teeth. Because they come prepackaged, it's easier than ever to toss a yogurt into your child's lunchbox. Just avoid yogurt with a high sugar content since you don't want to negate its positive effects with corrosive sugar.

2. Apples

Who doesn't love the sweet bite and snappy crunch of an apple? Apples have a lot of fiber—another component of strong teeth—and their texture stimulates the gums. The firmer texture encourages beneficial saliva production as well. Cut an apple into wedges or pack a whole one in your child's lunch as a sweet way to end their meal while also doing something positive for their teeth and gums. Your children's dentist will thank you.

3. Cheese

Like yogurt, cheese has calcium and protein, and it has the added benefit of lowering the pH balance in the mouth. With lower pH, the acids in the mouth neutralize and are easier on the teeth, decreasing the risk of decay. Also, because most cheeses are firm and chewy, the mouth produces more saliva, naturally rinsing away damaging acids and bacteria. Prepackaged cheese sticks or string cheese are excellent options for healthy lunch items.

When you want to help your kids maintain their oral health beyond lunches, bring them to see the children's dentists at Pedodontic Associates. Better Business Bureau-accredited with an A+ rating, they’ve served young patients of all ages on Oahu and Maui, HI, for more than 25 years. To schedule an appointment today, call (808) 735-1733 for the Honolulu clinic, (808) 487-7933 for Aiea, and (808) 877-0066 for Kahului. You can also visit them online for more helpful dental topics.