10 Alternatives to Cavity-Causing Foods

Keeping your child’s smile in good condition can feel like quite the task. Many children would rather fill up on candy and other sweets than on fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, a lot of the foods that kids tend to gravitate towards can cause tooth decay. The good news is that there are lots of tasty snacks that are better for their smile. Continue reading for ideas on alternatives to cavity-causing foods that you can serve your little one to promote a healthier smile.

10 Alternatives to Cavity-Causing Foods

The reason why soda, candy, and other sweet treats are so bad for your child’s smile is that they contain a lot of sugar. Bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugar in these foods and release acids. These acids damage their tooth enamel, which makes them more likely to develop cavities. Fortunately, there are several snacks that are better for your little one’s growing smile, such as:

• Celery with peanut butter
• Baked sweet potatoes
• Carrots and hummus
• Grapes and cheese
• Low-sugar trail mix
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cottage cheese
• Fresh fruit
• Kale chips
• Yogurt

5 Tips for Keeping Your Child’s Smile Cavity-Free

Along with feeding your child healthier snacks, there are several other ways that you can promote a healthy smile, such as:

• Brushing their teeth – This needs to be done for two full minutes twice a day. Be sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles so you don’t damage their enamel as well as toothpaste that contains fluoride to help defend their smile against decay.
• Flossing daily – This will get rid of food particles and plaque stuck between their teeth.
• Visiting the dentist – Take your child to appointments with their dentist every six months. During these visits, their teeth will be thoroughly cleaned and their mouth will be examined for oral health problems.
• Avoiding unhealthy dental habits – This includes thumb-sucking and nail-biting, which can damage their teeth or cause them to grow in improperly.
• Limiting sugar – As previously mentioned, sugar can do a lot of harm to your little one’s smile. The best way to prevent this is to limit the amount of sugar they consume and to encourage them to make healthier food choices.

As you can see, there are a variety of snacks that make great alternatives to cavity-causing foods. Though it may take a little bit of time to help your child adjust to these new snacks, they are sure to love them even more knowing that these tasty treats are promoting a healthy, beautiful smile!

About the Practice

The skilled team at Wylie Children’s Dentistry takes pride in helping their young patients keep their smiles in good condition. They offer a wide range of services to promote good oral health, including dental checkups and cleanings. This allows them to identify and treat oral health problems in their early stages to get your little one back on the right track. If you are interested in setting up an appointment with Wylie Children’s Dentistry or want to learn more about the services that they offer, call their office at (972) 429-7070 or visit their website.