THE BEST AND WORST FOODS
FOR YOUR TEETH

Foods That Are Good For Your Teeth

What your child eats can affect their oral health. It is important to provide kids with foods, drinks, and snacks that can help improve the health of their teeth and gums.

• Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt are high in calcium, casein, and phosphorus, which can protect tooth enamel. Milk can also help in neutralizing acids that are produced by bacteria.

• Eggs are an excellent source of Calcium, Vitamin D & K. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium, which can help build and maintain strong healthy teeth.

• Celery and Carrots are high fiber vegetables that require a lot of chewing which can aid in scrubbing the tooth surface. These vegetables contain a lot of water, which can help balance the sugars and keep teeth clean.

• Leafy Greens are high in folic acid and full of other minerals and vitamins. These can also help improve the health of teeth and gums.

• Nuts and Seeds are great snacks, as they are full of calcium and phosphorous. Acids can remove tooth enamel, nuts and seeds can help replenish those minerals.

Foods That Can Cause Cavities

Not only is the type and consistency of food you eat that is important in cavity prevention, but the duration and frequency matter as well. When you have sugary foods or drinks multiple times a day, the acid produced by these sugars is attacking the teeth over and over again. Repeated acid attacks cause tooth decay. Below is a list of foods that can be harmful to your oral health.
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• Sugary Drinks. The acids and sugars found in carbonated and non-carbonated drinks can cause tooth damage. Even sugar-free sodas can erode the tooth enamel due to its acidic contents.

• Citrus Fruits are a great source of vitamin C. However, certain fruits such as lime, lemons, and grapefruits are highly acidic and can erode tooth enamel over time.

• Juices also contain high levels of sugar. Even the juices that claim to be 100% fruit juice are harmful to your teeth. Try to water down juices if possible. Drinking milk and water is recommended over juices.

• Candy, in general, contains large amounts of sugar, which can get stuck in the crevices of your teeth, causing decay. Chewy candies, in particular, can stick to your teeth for longer periods of time, damaging the tooth enamel. Dried fruits may be a healthy snack, however, they are also sticky and contain sugar. If your child eats a sugary snack, make sure they brush, floss and rinse their teeth with water to clean the tooth surface.

• Chips, bread, and pasta are starches that are made from white flour can breakdown into simple sugars and can lead to tooth decay. Some starches such as chips can also adhere to teeth, leading to decay. Substitute white flour starches for whole wheat.