Eating to keep kids teeth healthy

 Sugar is again in the news as the headlines are reading:

Tooth extractions on toddlers rise by a quarter in 10 years

The Guardian

It is a very sad state of affairs that children as young as 3 are having to be given general anesthetic to have teeth removed.  We can blame the food industry to a certain extent but as parents we also to take the responsibility to make sure that we do what we can to keep our kids healthy and help them learn to make healthy choices in the future.

We all know the sayings an apple a day keeps the doctor away and Carrots help you see in the dark ...that's not all they do. Whilst investigating what foods we could give our kids to help protect their teeth I found this list by an American Dentist which explains the BEST FOODS FOR YOUR TEETH...

Pineapples

One of the best teeth-cleaners is the pineapple. Pineapples actually help to whiten your teeth. They contain an enzyme that works as a natural stain remover for your teeth. That enzyme also helps to remove plaque.

Apples

The apple is another perfect example. Not only is it healthy, but the apple skin is one of the best sources of all-natural tooth-cleaning

Carrots

While the myth is that carrots are good for your vision, they are good for your teeth too. The vitamin A in carrots helps build tooth enamel. Chewing raw carrots will cleanse your teeth. In addition, eating them aids your mouth in producing saliva, which is the mouth’s natural cleanser.

Onions

You might think that onions cause bad breath, but they actually help to clean your teeth. They contain sulfur compounds that get rid of bacteria that cause tooth decay. You must eat them raw for this effect to happen.

Broccoli

Broccoli has lots of iron, which contributes to the production of a film on that protects the enamel on your teeth. Fruits and vegetables are good for you in many ways, including cleaning your teeth.

Tea

Tea can also be good for your teeth. Green tea helps to reduce plaque, cavities, and gum disease. It also contains fluoride, which strengthens the teeth. You can also rinse your teeth using infused herbal teas. Thus, different types of tea aid in the getting rid of bad breath and the loosening up plaque in your mouth. They also simply make your breath feel fresher.

Some Dairy Products

Dairy products are beneficial as well. Milk and yogurt are high in calcium, which strengthens your teeth. Cheese helps to buffer mouth acids, and it is high in calcium as well. It also contributes to the repair of your teeth. Sesame seeds are another surprising teeth cleaner—they help to remove plaque from your teeth.

Information from US Dentist Pat Crawford 

It's not just sweets and sugary food that are causing tooth decay...

Sugary drinks are taking a lot of the blame and its especially bad if you are drinking them all day long. Fizzy drinks are particularly bad as the acid helps to erode the enamel. Orange, Lemon and grapefruit also contain high levels of acid so shouldn't be drunk over long periods of time.

Chewy or crunchy foods such as crisps, bread and dried fruit are a huge contributor to tooth decay. They stick to teeth and sit inside molars or between teeth for a much longer time so it's really important to limit these foods.

So it seems to me that the advice we can take is to eat less sugary foods, drink less sugary drinks, eat chewy foods in moderation and obviously brush your teeth twice a day!! I will also be adding a lot more of the Tooth friendly fruits and veggies into our diet!

At Nom Nom Kids we aim to make eating healthy whilst out and about easy and fun. We love homemade foods and smoothies using natural ingredients. We know what's in them and they don't contain any hidden sugars, salts or preservatives. We also love a treat too!  Check out our products here or our recipes here