More than 50% of Australian children suffer from dental decay, a disease that is entirely preventable and which will affect them for the rest of their life. The adage you are what you eat very much applies to dental health. Sugar in food and drink is what causes dental decay, and is influenced by how frequently and for how long the teeth are exposed to these foods. Every time we eat our mouths are exposed to the sugars in food. The bacteria in the mouth use these sugars to make acid, and if teeth are exposed to this acid for long enough they develop holes known as tooth decay.
- Avoid snack foods that are sticky, gummy, chewy or sweet
- Avoid grazing! Have set meal times and form a routine. Teeth need two hours to recover from the acid attack of a meal
- Limit fruit to two servings per day. Fruit is good but too much can be harmful because it contains natural sugar
- Give kids water with every meal to help wash away any lingering food
- Always read the label – if sugar is listed in the top three ingredients it usually isn’t a great sign
- Be selective with snacks. Remember fresh is best and vegies, cheeses and lean meats are great and tasty options
It can be difficult to find and prepare healthy snacks for your children so we have our Medland Kids Club Healthy Eating Chart available for you to download for some more tips and healthy food ideas. Not a member of Kids Club? Sign up now or invite a friend.
Further tips can be found in the Australian Dental Association’s Factsheet on “Snack Attack”.
