Most kids, if given a choice, will munch on sugary snacks and candies all day long. However, it’s essential to establish healthy eating habits right from the start, not only because a nutritious diet promotes a healthy body and proper development, but because it affects your little one’s oral health too!

How Do Sugary Snacks and Candies Affect Your Child’s Oral Health?

Did you know that cavities are the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults? Sugary treats and candies provide an abundant food source for bacteria. As they feast, the cavity-causing bacteria produce acids, which then begin to attack the tooth enamel and break it down. Over time, the constant exposure to sugar and bacteria results in tooth decay, leading to cavities.

Healthy Foods for Healthy Smiles

Make sure your child’s diet is balanced and nutritious, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and dairy products. If it’s snack time, offer a healthy option, such as fresh fruit, raw vegetable, cheese, or nuts, rather than sugary or processed foods. Remind your child to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

How Can You Help Prevent Childhood Cavities?

Make sure your child drinks only water between meals. It’s best to avoid constant grazing or sipping on juice or milk. Steer away from carbonated drinks because they contain sugars and are acidic, which hastens the development of tooth decay and cavities.

Treats are fine in moderation. However, it’s best to limit sticky foods that cling to your little one’s teeth and are hard to clean off. That also applies to starchy foods, such as potato chips or white bread. When saliva breaks them into sugars, the resulting pasty, sticky substance linger’s in the crevices of your child’s teeth, elevating the risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay. Moreover, it’s best to steer away from hard candies, which can chip, crack, or break a tooth, allowing bacteria to enter the inner layers, wreaking havoc on your child’s oral health.

Regardless of how healthy your child eats, it’s important to encourage daily brushing and flossing and to visit Smile Explorers Pediatric Dentistry twice a year. That will help ensure your little one’s smile stays bright, healthy, and free of disease.

Preventive Dentistry for Healthy Smiles

Smile Explorers Pediatric Dentistry is proud to offer quality preventive care to our young patients. That includes dental exams to identify any potential problems early on while easiest to treat and professional cleanings to remove plaque and keep dental disease at bay. Moreover, we offer fluoride treatments to strengthen your child’s teeth and make them more resistant to decay. We also provide dental sealants, a protective coating that keeps cavity-causing bacteria at bay.

Quality Pediatric Preventive Dentistry Services in Glendale, AZ

Contact Smile Explorers Pediatric Dentistry to learn more about healthy food choices for long-term healthy smiles. Our preventive services are designed to keep those tiny pearly whites in tip-top shape. We invite you to experience preventive care at its best. Call us and schedule your child’s appointment today!