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Diet Counseling

Essential to both overall health and oral health is having a healthy, balanced diet. Children with a diet consisting of frequent carbohydrates, like sugars and starches, are at increased risk for dental decay. Sticky or starchy foods including candy, dried fruits, crackers, and vitamins are oftetimes culprits for cavities. As part of your routine examination, we will assess your child’s diet for sources of dental decay and discuss nutritional alternatives.

GENERAL TIPS FOR A HEALTHY DIET AND A HEALTHY MOUTH

  • Feeding a child can oftentimes be a difficult endeavour, and we fully understand that keeping your child to a healthy diet can be daunting. Dr. Nini and Dr. John are both parents, and we ask that parents just try their best!
  • A child’s diet is important for cavity prevention because cavities are in large part caused by bacteria processing carbohydrates and releasing acid. When cavity causing bacteria in a person’s mouth take up sugars and starches, they produce an acid that attacks enamel on the teeth, which eventually leads to decay.
  • Parents don’t need to remove carbohydrates altogether though! Instead of taking them away entirely, kids can continue to enjoy carbohydrates, but schedule those carbs to regular meals. Doing so gives a child’s mouth a chance to buffer acids and return to baseline. Frequency matters more than quantity because frequent carbohydrate intake with snacking keeps acid levels high in a child’s mouth, and increases the risk of cavities.
  • Look for sugar in unexpected places. It’s not just sweet foods that are full of sugars – chips and crackers can contain just as much as candy or cookies. Also – don’t forget about sugary beverages!
  • A balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy products is not only important for dental health, but for overall growth and development.
  • Limiting the number of snacks a child gets per day is often ideal for reducing the risk for cavities, but is not always possible! For kids that are snackers or grazers, we ask that parents try their best to offer alternatives that do not contain as many carbohydrates. Think proteins, cheese, nuts, and vegetables.
  • Ensure your child brushes twice a day and flosses nightly to eliminate food debris that leads to harmful plaque and bacteria, and causes tooth decay.
Diet Counseling