How Food Choices Affect Oral Health

Dental cleanings in Victorville CA are an important part of your child’s oral health. However, the habits your child develops at home play a much larger role in determining whether your child will develop tooth decay and other common oral health issues. Your child looks to you as an example when it comes to brushing, flossing, and consuming a healthy diet.

The American Dental Association Weights in on Diet and Oral Health

According to the ADA, nutrition and diet play a direct role in the health of your child’s teeth and gums. The foods and beverages your child consumes affect tissues in the mouth, and the consumption of sugar has a direct relationship to tooth decay.

The ADA also states that regular intake of acidic foods and drinks erodes the enamel of your child’s teeth. The amount of sugary and acidic foods and beverages your child consumes matters just as much as the frequency when it comes to the development of tooth decay.

Good and Bad Food Options for Oral Health

Dr. A. Paul S. Bell understands that getting children to eat healthily can be a never-ending battle. You cannot always control what your child consumes outside the home, but you can choose the meals and snacks available to them inside your home.

Some of the best options you can offer your child to promote good oral health include aged cheeses, milk, chicken, nuts, and crunchy vegetables. Water is the ideal beverage, especially since it contains fluoride.

Foods you want to limit or avoid in your home include candy, cookies, cake, bread, dried fruit, bananas, granola bars, and French fries. These foods all have large amounts of carbohydrates and sugar that break down in your child’s mouth.

We would be happy to provide additional nutrition guidance during your child’sdental cleaning in Victorville CA.