September is National Fruit and Veggies Month – Learn How They Strengthen Smiles!

September is National Fruit and Veggies Month, a great time to teach your children about how they strengthen oral health. Crisp fruits and vegetables (apples, celery, carrots) work to remove plaque from teeth while improving breath. Fruits and vegetables also contain many important nutrients and vitamins that protect gums and tissues from cellular damage and bacterial infection.

A Bit About Tooth Enamel

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body and it is made up of 96% mineral which includes calcium, phosphate and oxygen. Enamel has no living cells or nerves inside. It acts as a barrier to prevent infection from entering into the dentin layer. The outer surface of tooth enamel is porous and can absorb chemicals. Small pores in tooth enamel are particularly vulnerable to chemical attack.

Hence, nutrition is very important for dental health. The foods you eat have both beneficial and potentially harmful effects on the teeth. Our Li’l Sunshine Smiles team can help you learn what your child’s diet should include to keep their smiles healthy.

There are different types of nutrition that can benefit teeth including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals etc.  We recommend that you choose fresh fruit over canned or processed food items as they contain more nutrition that can help your child’s teeth stay strong and healthy thereby giving their beautiful smiles a boost!

When choosing fruit try to pick fruits which are high in vitamin content such as oranges, grapefruit, apples, blueberries, bananas, mangos, and avocados, fish, dark leafy greens, broccoli, seeds, nuts, eggs, bell peppers, peas, lean meats, and dried fruits.

Foods to Welcome and Foods to Avoid

Are you wondering what foods are good for your child’s teeth and which you should avoid? All food is NOT created equal. It’s important to know which types of food will help support good dental hygiene and which ones can lead to tooth decay. Learn how important it is to maintain good oral health by eating certain kinds of foods.

Keep Good Dental Health by Avoiding These Foods at all Costs:

• Sugar – Sugar is known to cause tooth decay. It’s important to avoid sugary snacks, soda, or other types of drinks that contain sugar if you want good oral hygiene. It may be tempting to eat candy and desserts whenever they are available but it’s best to avoid them in the long run.
• Fried Foods – Fried foods are typically high in sugar, oil and salt which can lead to tooth decay. If you’re craving fried chicken or french fries it’s best just to eat a small amount of these items instead of eating an entire meal that has been prepared using this cooking technique. It may be good once in awhile but too much will damage your teeth over time.
• Sticky Chewy Candies – Sticky chewy candies like taffy, caramels, jellied candy and hard candy also contain sugars which can cause cavities overtime if you aren’t careful with how often you eat them. Small amounts here and there won’t hurt but they shouldn’t be eaten regularly.
• Candy Canes – Candy canes are typically good for your teeth because they’re crunchy and made of sugar but the peppermint flavor is known to be bad if you have tooth decay or sensitive teeth so it’s best to avoid eating them altogether.

Foods for Good Nutrition and Dental Health

If the types of foods mentioned above aren’t good for your oral hygiene, what kinds of food should you be eating? There are many healthy alternatives which will help keep up good dental health:

• Fruits & Vegetables – Fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, celery sticks, grapefruit slices and pears contain natural sugars that won’t harm your teeth as much as sugary snacks or candy bars would. They contain vitamins A (carotene), C, and K which are good for your dental health.
• Cheese – The calcium found in cheese helps to strengthen the enamel of teeth that may have been damaged by sugary treats or foods high in acidity. Swiss cheese contains more calcium than other types so it’s good to eat when you’re trying to avoid tooth decay.
• Nuts & Seeds – Nuts like peanuts contain healthy fats which help cleanse the mouth while strengthening gums over time. They also provide protein which can help keep up good oral hygiene habits since they make you feel full longer after eating them rather than snacking on empty calorie food options throughout the day. Sunflower seeds are good too because they’t cause cavities due to their good fats.
• Fish – Fish like tuna, salmon and sardines are good sources of omega-three fatty acids which not only help to prevent tooth decay but also keep up good heart health over time as well!

Keeping good dental health isn’t always easy but it’s important that you pay attention to what kind of food your child is eating on a daily basis if you want their teeth to stay healthy for years to come. These tips will ensure that your child’s oral hygiene stays strong so take them into consideration before going out shopping or settling down at the dinner table tonight!

Get the education you need to teach your child about the importance of good nutrition and dental health. Our friendly team is anxious to help you in any way we can. Call our office at (813) 576-0200 to speak to our experienced Li’l Sunshine Smiles team today!