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Eating for Healthy Teeth
EATING FOR TWO
A baby’s tooth buds begin to form between the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy. What you eat during this time nourishes the baby’s development. Unless the doctor advises otherwise, expectant moms should eat a balanced diet with foods high in calcium and phosphorous- key building blocks for a healthy baby’s teeth.
BIRTH TO 2 YEARS
By age two, eating patterns and habits-good and not so good- are beginning to develop. Be watchful of your child’s “sweet” intake.
3 TO 6 YEARS
Eating habits that are formed during this period will have long-lasting consequences for your child’s teeth. Don’t let your toddler sip on soft drinks, suck on sweets, etc. When given a choice, children will usually choose foods high in sugar. Give them healthy snack food alternatives.
7 TO 12 YEARS
Now is the time when your early “good eating” training will come in handy. Kids’ diets tend to take a dive at this age. Between snacks at their friends’ homes and tempting TV commercials, it is nearly impossible to monitor what they eat. Educate yourself and your children. Explain what foods are not healthy for their teeth (acidic juice drinks and soda, for example). Read labels and look at sugar content.
13 TO 18 YEARS
This is a tough age for any intervention from Mom and Dad. Many teenagers are drinking three to four sodas a day and have plenty of pocket change left over to load up on fast foods, donuts, and a variety of decay-producing snacks. Promote water and sugarless gum in place of sodas and sweets.
Also at this age teens are at risk for catching decay or gum disease from their friends. Explain this and caution them not to drink (or eat) from someone else’s cup, bottle, or straw.
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