Healthier Children’s Teeth with 5 Easy Food Swaps

Aside from the physical benefits of instilling healthy dietary practices in children from a young age, choosing healthier options also serves as a launching point for healthier teeth and gums. So many of the snack foods and drinks that kids – and parents alike – opt for are full of sugar, unnecessary dyes, and can be harmful to children’s teeth. By switching out some of a child’s favorite foods, snacks and beverages with healthier alternatives, parents can avoid forking over money and time on getting cavities filled, cracked teeth fixed, and save gums from becoming infected or sensitive.

Here are 5 easy food swaps for healthier and happier teeth and gums in children:

1. Sports Drinks or Juices vs. Water or Coconut Water: Kids today drink juice boxes and sports drinks like they are going out of stock permanently. By cutting these drinks with water (half and half) or completely exchanging them for water, or an alternative of coconut water, can prevent sugars from staying on a child’s teeth all day. Excessive amounts of sugar-filled fluids are guaranteed to lead to cavities down the road.

2. Dark Berries and Citrus vs. Strawberries and Fibrous Fruits: Berries such as blackberries and blueberries have a darker pigmentation that is known to stain teeth. Meanwhile, citrus fruits are highly acidic and can deteriorate the enamel on a child’s more fragile teeth. Strawberries contain malic acid which is known to actually whiten enamel, and fruit higher in fiber have a different texture that ends up scrubbing teeth and gums to remove unnecessary plaque buildup. Apples would be a good alternative in the high fiber category. Though all are considered healthier than candy, the pigmentation and consistency issues are key points with this swap.

3. Tomato-Based Pasta Sauce vs. Cheese-Based Pasta Sauce: Red sauces can stain teeth and cause them to appear more yellow. Cheese sauces, however, are lighter in color and thus avoid staining. They are also high in calcium, which helps strengthen teeth (they are a bone after all!).

4. Yogurt or Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream: Ice cream is full of sugar, which obviously causes cavities, while yogurt or frozen yogurt are lower in sugars and don’t coat them teeth in the same, negative way. Try swapping out your next late-night sundae with a froyo sundae topped with strawberries. Yum!

5. Whole Grain Bread vs. White Bread: White bread has a relatively high sugar content, which can cause cavities as the bread gets stuck in the bottom and top of teeth and gums. Though whole grain bread still contains some sugars, the overall sugar content is much lower – and the grainy consistency helps prevent it from sticking to teeth as much as white bread does.

Of course, starting a child out with the healthier alternatives will make things easier, but a slow transition will also make all the difference in the world. It is never too late to make a switch to an option that is better for your oral health and well-being!

Looking for a dentist near you?

Our hope is that you have been able to gain a great deal of insight in to your options for your child’s dental needs by switching out certain foods and drinks with healthier options. If you are in the Brooklyn, NY area and looking for the best kids’ dentist around, Dr. Yury Slepak, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, at 2464 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11223 would love to help guide you and keep your child’s smile healthy! Call 718-998-2424 to schedule your child’s appointment today!