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When it comes to proper children's dental care, diet plays a key role in keeping teeth strong and healthy. Many children prefer sweets, but parents should choose the right snacks and meals for your little ones to prevent cavities and decay. Here are the most beneficial foods for your child's dental health.

What Foods Are Best for Your Child’s Teeth?

1. Crunchy Fruits & Veggies

Instead of chips and cookies, children should snack on crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and bell peppers. These fiber-rich foods help scrub your teeth clean as you chew. They also promote saliva production, which neutralizes acids in the mouth that cause decay, helps repair early damage, and washes away leftover bits of food after you eat.

2. Calcium-Rich Foods

Calcium intake is essential for maintaining the structure and function of your teeth. It strengthens your enamel, the outer protective layer of the tooth, to help fight off erosion, cavities, and decay. Dairy products like yogurt, milk, and cheese are rich in calcium. For non-dairy options, kids can get their fill of calcium through beans, seeds, almonds, and canned fish.

3. Lean Proteins

dental care

Protein and phosphorous are valuable nutrients for dental care that protect and rebuild eroding tooth enamel. Aim to include plenty of phosphorous-rich proteins such as eggs, fish, lean meats, poultry, or tofu in daily meals. Dairy products, beans and legumes, and nuts and seeds do not contain quite as much protein, but they do allow for variation in your child’s diet.

4. Leafy Greens

Dark, leafy green vegetables should make up a substantial portion of a healthy diet. This is because they offer a variety of critical nutrients while remaining low in calories. Many of these nutrients, including iron, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins A and C, support healthy teeth and gums. Incorporating nutrient-rich foods like spinach, kale, chard, arugula, and collard greens into your child's diet is a wonderful way to boost their oral health.

5. Foods With Fluoride

Fluoride is often added to toothpaste and water to strengthen enamel and fight off bacterial growth, so children should drink plenty of water and brush their teeth with fluoride-infused toothpaste. Fluoride can also be obtained from certain foods, including grapes, raisins, spinach, and shellfish. Other products, such as dehydrated soups and powdered cereals, are also fortified with fluoride.
 


When children in the Pearl City, HI area need quality children's dental care, parents turn to Dentistry for Kids. Pediatric dentist Paul K. Seo, D.D.S., M.S. and his experienced team offer comprehensive oral health care in a friendly, comfortable environment. Whether your child needs a routine dental exam, cavity fillings, or treatment for a toothache, they go above and beyond to provide positive experiences and education for children and their families. Call (808) 486-8881 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website to learn what you can expect from your child’s care.

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