As a modern parent, you likely help your kids get the nutrients a healthy body needs. That’s only natural – you want them to have strong bones, proper muscle growth, etc. Still, you may not have known that some meals can protect your children’s smiles. You should add these cuisines to your youngsters’ diet if you haven’t already. Luckily, your Silver Spring pediatric dentist can help you get started. Here are four foods that improve your child’s oral health.
Fruits & Veggies
In the end, fruits and vegetables don’t just benefit your child’s overall health. They also make your little one’s grin clean and robust.
There are several reasons fruits and veggies are good for budding smiles. Firstly, chewing apples and celery stimulates saliva and thus helps the mouth wash away sugar. Carrots also have beta carotene, which a body needs to make vitamin A – a crucial nutrient for strong teeth. Leafy greens – spinach, kale, etc. – even have folic acid that keeps gums healthy and stable.
Dairy Products
Certainly, dairy products do strengthen a child’s bones; there’s no doubt about that. However, they also strengthen your kids’ teeth.
You see, most dairy products have two excellent minerals. The first is calcium, which strengthens a smile’s enamel and fights against tooth decay. Second is phosphorus, a mineral that mineralizes the enamel layer of teeth. These nutrients act together to give a child’s grin a stellar defense against bacterial acids. So, make sure to stock up on milk, yogurt, and cheeses.
Lean Meats & Nuts
When your child needs an energy boost, they may snack on some lean meats or nuts. Such foods would also enhance their teeth and gums.
These two food groups have various ways to enhance a young smile. For example, lean meats – turkey, chicken, etc. – contain protein that repairs mouth tissues and ensures tooth growth. Almonds and peanuts likewise have vitamin D, which lets the body absorb calcium. Other nuts feature high amounts of fiber that can neutralize the acids in one’s mouth.
Fatty Fish
Maybe your child wants to skip fatty fish due to the smell. Even so, they really shouldn’t – this seafood would do their mouth a lot of good.
Aside from their protein, fatty fish have a few other nutrients that help smiles. Their omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the body’s inflammation level, reducing the risk of gum disease. These fish are also filled with phosphorus, crucial for strong teeth and bones. Given such facts, buying plenty of salmon and tuna would be a good idea.
By getting these four foods that improve your child’s oral health, you’ll set your family on a path to great smiles. With that said, go ahead and buy them!
About the Practice
Healthy Kids Dentistry is based in Silver Spring, MD. Led by Dr. Cyrus Allafi, our practice meets nearly every dental need for kids of all ages – from infants to teens. That means we’re just as able to give your child a dental checkup as we are a complex pulpotomy. So, our team is always ready to help kids grow up with flourishing smiles. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (301)-871-8880.