Ways You Can Boost Your Child’s Oral Health Through Diet

Children should always eat healthily, but for many families, that isn’t the case. For many families, getting good nutrition takes a lot of time and money. But good nutrition will provide longer-lasting effects that outlive your wallet. Maintaining all those wonderful food groups will give your children healthy hearts and minds, giving them the ability to exercise more, participate in activities, and have an overall healthier lifestyle in the future. But did you know it also affects their oral health too? Eating nutrient-rich foods can help you and your family have healthier, happier teeth because our bodies maintain a fascinating link that’s everlasting to our bodies – our mouth.

How Our Oral Health Influences Our Bodies

Your mouth gives us a great deal of information regarding your health. Gaining proper nutrients and good hygiene will show us that you have tight pink gums, clean teeth, and a bright red tongue. On the other hand, unhealthy foods and poor hygiene will show the opposite, and for children, that presents them with huge risks for cavities and gum disease later on in life. What determines the health of your mouth and body is the microbiome. The microbiome contains hundreds of bacteria that are both good and bad, with some of them fighting off illnesses and others creating illnesses.

Because the microbiome is an essential component of our oral health, brushing and flossing will only do so much to keep those nasty bacteria at bay. The best long-term solution you can provide to your family is through proper diet and exercise. Some research from StatPearls has shown that eating a dynamic variety of foods can not only be highly nutritious for our bodies but also for our teeth. The consequences of having bad oral health are quite a high risk, so we’re here to provide you with a basic summary of your nutritional needs!

Choosing The Right Nutrients For Your Teeth

Diets don’t have to be boring, but they should be nutritious. Diets containing heavy amounts of sugar and carbohydrates will harm your children’s teeth in the long run and will ultimately cause them to become more vulnerable to gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss later on in life. When it comes to nutrition for your teeth, you should focus on these three things:

• Nutrients For Saliva Production – Fiber is a crucial aspect of healthy teeth because it helps stimulate the tongue and mouth to produce salivae, such as fruits and vegetables.
• Nutrients For Bone Strength – Vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamin D, will help increase the bone strength of your child’s teeth and protect their teeth long term. Drinking fluoridated water will also help protect their teeth.
• Nutrients For Low Blood Pressure – Proteins, low-fat foods, and foods enriched in vitamin A and C should help lower the risk of developing gum disease as well as high blood pressure and heart disease.

For more information about nutrients, your child’s dental health, and how to best care for your child’s teeth, arrange an appointment with your dentist today!