{"id":270,"date":"2019-08-03T14:21:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T14:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/?p=270"},"modified":"2019-09-13T14:23:03","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T14:23:03","slug":"childrens-dentist-shares-which-foods-your-child-should-eat-for-good-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/childrens-dentist-shares-which-foods-your-child-should-eat-for-good-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Children\u2019s Dentist Shares Which Foods Your Child Should Eat for Good Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We all know that school lunches are much better than they\nwere 20 or 30 years ago, but do you really trust what it is your child is\neating at school? If you\u2019ve made the decision to start packing their lunch, you\nmight feel more in control of the types of food they\u2019re consuming, but what is\ntruly healthy? A children\u2019s\ndentist<\/a> understands the difficulties that can come with deciphering which\nfoods claims to be healthy and which ones actually are. Before you head to the\ngrocery store in hopes of making the right choice, here are some of the best\nfoods to pack in your child\u2019s lunch as well as ones you should avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Good Oral Health Should Start Early<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Young teeth need just as much care as permanent, adult\nteeth. You might be surprised to learn that a child\u2019s first visit to their\nfamily dentist should occur by their first birthday or when the first tooth erupts\nthrough the gum line. The reason is that good oral health should start early.\nAs children grow, they become more susceptible to tooth decay and cavities\nbecause of their inability to practice good oral hygiene. It\u2019s not necessarily\nthat they don\u2019t want to brush or floss their teeth, it\u2019s that they can\u2019t reach\ncertain areas of their mouth or don\u2019t understand the importance of brushing for\ntwo full minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a parent, it is your job to help and encourage them to maintain\ngood oral habits, one of which includes eating healthy, nutritious meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Food Can Impact Your Child\u2019s Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, you want your children to have a varied pallet.\nToo often, parents get stuck fixing only a few choice foods items for their\nchildren because of their child\u2019s dislike for many of the items on the standard\nfood pyramid. Chicken nuggets, hot dogs, chocolate milk, and maybe even pasta\nbecome the norm, limiting the type of nutrients your child needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foods that have too much sugar, starch, or acidity can be\nharmful to their teeth and gums simply because these can result in harmful\nbacterial growth in your child\u2019s mouth. Not only can bacteria burrow into the\ncrevices of their teeth and create cavities, but it can cause severe tooth decay\nand actually be damaging to the permanent teeth that will try to come through once\nbaby teeth are lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making sure they\u2019re eating a well-balanced diet for every meal,\nas well as opting for healthy snacks, will make all the difference in the world\nfor their smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This or That: Good vs. Bad Foods to Pack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When staring down your countertop to begin packing their\nlunch, here are a few items that will give you the reassurance that their teeth\nand gums will stay in good shape:<\/p>\n\n\n\n