Eating Habits for Healthy Smiles
Your child’s eating and drinking habits play a big role in their oral health. Here are some simple, practical tips to protect their teeth:
💧 Choose Water First
Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day—especially between meals. Water rinses away food particles, keeps the mouth hydrated, and helps prevent tooth decay.
- Check for fluoride: If you use bottled water, make sure it contains added fluoride to help strengthen teeth. Many local tap water supplies already have fluoride—check your area’s water report.
🍭 Understand Hidden Sugars
Even foods that seem healthy for kids can be high in sugar. Common examples include:
- Cereal and breakfast bars
- Boxed snack packs
- Flavored milks (chocolate or strawberry)
- Fruit juices and juice boxes
- Sports drinks
👉 Why it matters: It’s not just the amount of sugar, but the frequency of exposure. Each time sugar touches teeth, bacteria create acids that attack the enamel.
⏱ Frequency Matters More Than Quantity
It’s better for your child to have sweets occasionally with meals rather than frequent sugary snacks throughout the day. Eating sweets alongside a meal:
- Stimulates saliva (which helps wash away sugar and acids)
- Reduces the total time teeth are exposed to harmful acids
🍼 Bottle & Sippy Cup Tips
Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle or letting them carry a bottle of milk, juice, or sweet drinks around the house.
- Prolonged exposure to sugary liquids can cause baby bottle tooth decay—rapid decay of front teeth.
- If your child enjoys juice, offer it diluted with water and in a cup, not a bottle.
- Aim to transition your child off the bottle by around age 1 to protect their teeth and support healthy oral development.
✅ Healthy Snack & Drink Swaps
- Instead of: Juice boxes → Try: Water or milk with meals
- Instead of: Sticky gummy snacks → Try: Fresh fruit or cheese
- Instead of: Constant snacking → Try: Balanced meals with occasional treats
👉 Bottom line: A balanced diet with limited sugary drinks and snacks, plus plenty of water, goes a long way toward keeping your child’s smile healthy.