Are you mindful about what you pack for your child’s school lunches? It’s easy to fall into the habit of throwing in a pre-packaged meat, cheese, and cracker tray as well as a small bag of cookies and a juice box, but have you considered how it might be impacting your child’s teeth and gums? Choosing the right foods doesn’t have to be hard, and it can lead to positive feedback from your little one’s dentist during their next visit. Find out which types of food you should pack and which ones to avoid so that cavities do not form.
How Can Food Lead to Cavities?
Two key ingredients can spell disaster for teeth – sugars and carbohydrates. While fine in moderation, you may not realize that many of the so-called “healthy” foods you pack for your child’s lunch are actually harming their pearly whites.
When sugars and starches from things like potato chips and cookies remain on your child’s teeth for prolonged periods, it causes plaque to form. Over time, harmful acids can begin to eat away at the outer layer of their teeth (the enamel) and cause it to break down, resulting in cavities.
While regular brushing and flossing are helpful in reducing these harmful developments, your child may not be cleaning their teeth as well as they should, which is why regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings by their pediatric dentist are essential.
Which Foods Should You Avoid?
When packing your child’s lunch, you’ll want to make sure that you keep the following items out of their lunchbox:
- Juice boxes
- Potato chips
- Sticky gummy chews/fruit snacks
- White bread
- Cookies/candy
If your child is not taking their lunch to school but instead buying it from the cafeteria, you’ll want to make sure that they avoid purchasing canned fruit, as it is highly acidic and often contains a lot of added sugar.
Which Foods Are Safe for Your Child’s Smile?
Packing the following foods in your child’s lunchbox will help you to feel more confident and at ease about the state of their smile:
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Raw fruits and vegetables
- Leafy greens (i.e., broccoli, kale, lettuce)
- Lean proteins (i.e., fish, turkey, eggs)
- Nuts and seeds
- Dark chocolate (in moderation)
- Water
Not only will these foods give them the fuel their body needs to keep learning and moving throughout the day, but they’ll also protect their teeth and gums from succumbing to copious amounts of bad oral bacteria.
Making healthier choices for your child’s lunch is one of the most pivotal ways to keep their smiles healthy throughout the school year.
About the Author
Dr. José Garcia is a pediatric dentist in Aspen Hill who completed his dental doctorate at Howard University College of Dentistry. At Healthy Kids Dentistry, he and his team work together to help parents understand how to keep their child’s smile healthy year-round. Whether it is establishing good oral hygiene habits at home or learning how to pack healthier lunches, we encourage patients to visit our website or call (301) 871-8880 to find out how we can help.