You may not realize just how big a role diet plays in your child’s dental health. “Dental disease is caused by multiple factors,” says Mario Ramos, DMD, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation, and pediatric dentist at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Midland Park. “The oral microbiome—or the bacteria in our mouths—use carbohydrates and sugar from foods to produce acid. Acid is what demineralizes our teeth, which leads to cavities.”
This process can begin in infancy. “As soon as the first tooth appears around the age of 6 months, your child is at risk for cavities,” says Mary Beth Giacona, DDS, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Rutgers Health School of Dental Medicine. “Many parents don’t realize that even allowing your child to sleep with a bottle or nurse at night can lead to tooth decay.”
But good dental health isn’t only about preventing cavities. “There’s a connection with oral health into adulthood,” says Giacona. “Tooth decay is an infectious disease, and poor oral health may be associated with adverse effects later, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”
Here’s how to set up your kids for success with a healthy diet that protects their oral health:
- Don’t send kids to bed with a bottle. “Teeth bathed all night in milk provide a substrate for bacteria,” says Ramos. The same goes for nursing at will. In both cases, your child’s teeth are exposed for hours to natural sugars that can lead to cavities, often referred to as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries.
- Limit sticky foods. This includes snacks such as raisins and other dried fruits, gummy candies, taffy, fruit rolls and caramels. You don’t need to eliminate them from your child’s diet, but these foods allow sugar to stay in contact with the teeth for long periods of time. Have kids brush or rinse with water right away after eating them, says Ramos.
- Eliminate grazing. Carbs play a role in tooth decay, too, because the bacteria break down the starch, or carbohydrates, into sugars, says Ramos. Letting kids snack all day long on crackers, pretzels or cereal keeps those substances in contact with the teeth for an extended period.
- Get rid of the all-day sippy cup. “It’s the frequency of sipping, more than the amount, that matters. It’s better to drink beverages like milk in one sitting at a meal than sipping them all day long,” says Giacona. Ditto for the sugar-filled sports drinks that teens love.
- Give kids water to drink. Sugary drinks such as sodas or even 100 percent fruit juice are treats that should be reserved for special events, such as a birthday party, not daily consumption, says Ramos. Plain drinking water is the best option overall, while plain milk is also okay.
- Offer tooth-friendly snacks. Raw fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, carrots and celery are a great choice for snacking because the crunchy texture helps keep the oral environment clean. Foods like yogurt and cheese are other good options to provide calcium that helps build strong teeth, says Ramos.
- Allow a treat once in a while. “It’s unrealistic to not allow kids to have an occasional piece of candy or sweets,” says Giacona. But choose wisely. For example, chocolate is better than a lollipop or sticky candy that remains in the mouth for hours.
- Schedule their first dental visit by age 1. “Baby teeth matter. What we know from studies is that kids who have decay in baby teeth have a much higher rate of decay in permanent teeth,” says Ramos. Establishing a dental home also provides a place to be seen in an emergency, such as a chipped tooth, and allows the dentist to assess your child’s risk for cavities, alignment, and other potential issues before they become problems.
- Make brushing a habit. Before teeth erupt, clean your baby’s mouth with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush. Once your child has his or her first tooth, start brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Use a smear the size of a grain of rice for kids younger than 3, or a pea-sized amount for kids older than 3, says Giacona.
- Flossing is important, too. Once two or more teeth are touching, start flossing. An electric toothbrush, water device, or special flosser tools can all be helpful for getting into tiny mouths, especially if you’re still the one doing the brushing. “Use whatever works to get the job done,” says Giacona.
- Add fluoride treatments. Because most municipalities in New Jersey do not have fluoridated water, talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist about applying a fluoride varnish to give teeth extra protection against cavities. Fluoride helps harden enamel and makes it more resistant to acidic attacks, says Giacona. Fluoride supplements, much like a daily vitamin, also may be prescribed.
—Arricca Elin SanSone is a health and lifestyle writer.
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