The Academy of General Dentistry has determined in recent studies that dietary habits are usually indicators of the state of a patient’s dental health. Read on to learn more information about how your diet can impact your oral health.
Kids Are More Vulnerable To Poor Dental Health
After looking at the dietary habits and teeth of young children for fifteen months, results showed that decay and cavities were present in about ten percent of kids at age five. That number jumped to nearly twenty percent in just one year. Numbers dropped when kids reached their teens. Unfortunately, this showed that children usually experience a significant risk of cavities during their elementary school years.
Why Are Young Kids Prone To Tooth Decay?
The primary reason that kids are at a greater risk of cavities is because they eat larger amounts of sugar and simple carbohydrates. These substances are too often available in the breakfast and lunch choices for young kids. Since school meals are tough to monitor, parents cannot easily control their children’s food choices.
How Can You Prevent Poor Oral Health?
We all know that it is tricky to control what your kids eat as soon as they step out of the house. However, although it is challenging, it is not impossible to monitor your child’s eating habits. Parents can help by packing their child’s lunch, providing healthy snacks, and following up with both your child and their teacher to make sure they are eating the healthy foods you are providing. You can also offer healthy snack alternatives when your child gets home, such as carrots, celery, or raisins. Start when your child is young and instruct them to avoid candy and other foods that contain refined sugar or processed carbohydrates.
Parents can also show their child how to brush after lunch, rinse with water, or eat a piece of fruit to help keep teeth clean. You can also do some research to find out what kinds of foods your child’s school lunch program offers. If the school lunch programs do not incorporate healthy foods, talk to the school about incorporating healthy lunches or snacks into the lunch offerings.
How Can An Apple a Day Help Your Oral Health?
Apples are a great way to help kick-start healthy oral habits. These fruits are free from refined sugars, relatively low in acid content, and crunchy. Taking a bite of these fruits can scrape the tooth surface gently to remove plaque and other food particles. Additionally, apples are a great source of healthy fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
What About Tooth Sealants?
Many times, parents feel helpless to prevent cavities in their kids. But here at Williams Lake Smiles, we want you to know that there are options. One way to prevent cavities is professionally applied tooth sealants. Sealants consist of a thin layer of bonding material that is applied to the chewing surface of a tooth. Once this layer dries, it acts as a barrier to bacteria food, plaque, and decay. This treatment can be used when your child’s first permanent molars have grown in. Give us a call today if you would like more information about sealants and how they could help your child.
Tips To Reduce Cavities And Improve Oral Health
1) Brush and floss your teeth after every meal. Encourage your kids to do this too!
2) Reduce sugary coffee drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks, and soda.
3) As an alternative for sugar-filled drinks, try water, tea, or sugar-free beverages.
4) Chew sugar-free gum after meals to keep your teeth clean and plaque free.
5) See the staff at Williams Lake Smiles regularly for check-ups and cleanings.
Come To Williams Lake Smiles Today For All Your Dental Needs
Here at our dental practice, we want all of our patients to know how important oral health is. If you have questions about the treatments we offer or general questions about oral hygiene, please feel free to peruse our website or give us a call for more information. You can also call our Williams Lake, BC, office for a consultation with Dr. Wassenaar. Give us a call now to get started on your journey to a healthy and happy smile.
