Best Foods & Drinks for Healthy Teeth and Happy Kids

Best Foods & Drinks for Healthy Teeth and Happy Kids

There’s never a wrong time to start eating healthier and passing those good food habits on to your kids. When it comes to healthy teeth and happy kids, the time is now to incorporate healthy and delicious changes to your diets. Parents who want the best possible health for themselves and their children will be delighted to know that there are plenty of tasty and healthy foods that their children will love. And these foods aren’t just good for your teeth—they’re great for your body too.

6 Foods & Drinks for Healthy Teeth

If you are looking for suggestions on the best foods for healthy teeth and happy kids, you have come to the right place. The Farless Dental Group has put together a list of foods that your kids will love, and you will too.

1. Apples

As they say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. And though you shouldn’t skip your kid’s annual visits to their Greensboro pediatrician or their twice-a-year visits to their pediatric oral health dentist, apples contain many nutrients that are essential to good health. Apples are high in fiber and act like a natural toothbrush to brush away plaque and debris from food. The acid content in apples kills off bacteria that cause halitosis too, leaving you with fresher breath for longer.

2. Carrots

Though you get the best health benefit when you eat raw carrots, the consumption of carrots in any way provides a great boost to your health. Carrots offer a tremendous amount of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. Not only that, but carrots can aid in weight loss for those looking to slim down a little. And if that isn’t enough, carrots are linked to better eye health and lower cholesterol levels. Munching on a raw carrot provides very similar health benefits to eating an apple, as the fiber can help scrub away food particles and keep teeth shiny.

3. Nuts

Though parents should be careful when introducing nuts into their child’s diet due to the risk of peanut allergies, nuts are pretty good for the daily diet if no allergy is present. Nuts provide saliva-boosting, teeth-cleaning benefits that your kids need for healthy teeth while also providing an impressive dose of daily protein.

4. Salmon

We understand that it can be hard to get kids to like eating fish. Though many people acquire the taste for fish as they get older, the sooner you can get your kids to enjoy fish dishes, the better. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and is also high in Vitamin D, which helps your body absorb and use calcium, protecting your teeth and gums from oral diseases. Don’t fret if your child balks at the salmon on their plate the first time you serve it. With the right amount of experimentation, you will hopefully find a salmon recipe that your children will love.

5. Cheese, Milk, and Yogurt

Most kids love yogurt, especially yogurt naturally flavored with fruit. And that’s a good thing because yogurt is jam-packed with calcium that helps fight off cavities, bad breath, and gum disease. Cheese, too, is excellent for kids as it is low in sugar and high in calcium. Further, cheese contains casein, a protein that helps to fortify tooth enamel. Finally, milk is an excellent drink for your kids and is an ideal supplement to water. Milk contains calcium and protein, plus it helps increase the production of saliva, which washes away bacteria from the mouth.

6. Water

We would be remiss if we didn’t add water to the list of foods and beverages that are good for kids and healthy teeth. When it comes to providing your child with a drink at mealtime or snack time, milk and water should be at the top of the list. Sodas, coffees, and teas not only cause tooth staining, but the acid in these beverages can damage the enamel on your kids’ teeth. And fruit juices aren’t a good choice either.

Even though some juices contain natural fruits, which can be good for kids, the sugar in these juices sits on the teeth and can increase the chances of cavities. Not only that, but your child should drink approximately the number of eight-ounce cups of water equal to their age, per day, with a maximum of 64 ounces of water for kids over age eight.

Talk to the Farless Dental Group for more suggestions on healthy teeth and happy kids.

Starting your kids on a positive diet now by serving them foods for healthy teeth will pay dividends in the long run. Not only will your child develop good eating habits, but it can also set them up for success to maintain a healthy lifestyle during adulthood. But providing your child with healthy food choices isn’t enough. Your child still needs to learn proper oral health habits, such as brushing teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting the pediatric dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. Parents and guardians can help instill the importance of seeing a dentist regularly and following good oral habits. So, if you are looking for a family dentist in Greensboro, NC, or your child is overdue for a cleaning, wait no further. Request an appointment using our online form, or give us a call at (336) 282-2868. We look forward to seeing you.