It’s time to make some changes.

Getting kids to eat something healthy can feel like a battle at times. We want them to have healthy eating habits that don’t consist of only empty calories and overly processed foods, but sometimes it feels next to impossible to get them to eat something green. When it comes to children, you’ve got to accept the wins as they come. Not every day is going to be perfect, and that’s okay! Sometimes all you can do is sneak in some nutritious food here or there.

Instilling healthy eating habits in our children will stay with them throughout their lives, and researchers have actually found a direct link between a child’s eating habits and their oral health! In this article, we’ll share a few ways you can promote your child’s oral health with some small tweaks to their diet.

Choose tooth-friendly foods.

Fruits and vegetables are packed full of nutrients to help our little one’s teeth stay strong and healthy. Crunchy varieties, such as carrots, celery, and apples, help produce more saliva, which works to wash away some pesky cavity-causing bacteria. On its own, eating crunchy fruits and vegetables isn’t a replacement for brushing their teeth, but it certainly helps!

Leafy greens, like spinach, are full of calcium, which helps repair the enamel. This can be a hard one to get little ones to eat, but it’s easy to sneak it into scrambled eggs or even a fruit smoothie. Another calcium-rich option is a tasty snack of nuts, such as cashews or almonds.

If you’ve got a picky child on your hands, not all is lost! There are non-vegetable options as well. Tasty dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and milk also help our bodies produce more saliva. Yogurt and cheese, in particular, are high in calcium and protein, which help strengthen those little teeth! So when you put a sprinkle of cheese on that cauliflower, don’t feel guilty! Every nutrient contributes in some way.

Limit sugary snacks and drinks.

Sugar is hiding in more foods than we’d like to admit. Of course, it’s okay to enjoy it here or there, but it’s best to limit it whenever we can. The sugar in the foods we eat mixes with the bacteria in our mouth and creates a sort of acid. If it is not brushed away adequately, that acid then adheres to the teeth and eats away at the enamel, then eventually the tooth itself. Soon enough, the tooth has a cavity.

Finding tasty alternatives to your child’s favorite sugary treat can help limit their intake and lower the risk for cavities. Whenever you can, grab some sugar-free candy instead, or you can try infusing your little one’s water with fruit to make it taste sweeter instead of grabbing fruit juice.

Encourage water consumption.

Drinking water is more impactful to a child’s oral health than many people realize. Each sip of water they take helps wash away hidden bacteria, lessening their risk for cavities and tooth decay. So for this reason and many more, it’s important that our little ones drink as much water as possible each day.

For some children, drinking from a special water bottle or using a fun straw can do the trick in motivating them to drink more water. Other kids may need a bit more encouragement with fruit-infused water or fancy ice cubes. You could even try setting up a drink station for your kiddo so they can grab a drink of water whenever they notice they’re getting thirsty. The more fun it is to drink, the more likely they are to actually do it!

We know it can be challenging to encourage our kids to drink water regularly, but don’t get discouraged if your first tactic doesn’t work the way you planned. Every kiddo is different, so don’t be afraid to get creative!

Healthy Snacking Tips

Snacks can be a little tricky sometimes. Those little ones are way too good at asking for a snack whenever we’re in the middle of doing something important and don’t have the time to prepare anything. This often leads to us grabbing something packaged from the back of the pantry.

Sure, we’d all love to have the time to bake healthy treats with our little ones at any time, but that’s not always possible. Try to plan for those inevitable days when you are too busy to make something fancy. You can refill that bowl of fruit on the counter so they have some choices for their snack, or you can even create some snacks to go in the freezer for whenever the day comes. One of our favorites is yogurt bark.

School snacks are often the last thing we think about when we’re trying to hustle out the door in the morning. Keeping it simple helps! If it’s allowed at their school, try to send some fresh nuts for them to snack on. And if you’re able to prep some snacks in advance, these vegetable fruit snacks are bound to be a favorite! Your little ones might even enjoy helping you cut out the shapes.

There’s no better way to get fresh-tasting fruits and vegetables than buying them at the local farmer’s market. Letting your children pick what they’d like is always helpful in getting them to eat, and they might even be more likely to eat healthy options if they’re the one who picked it out.

Every little step counts toward the goal!

When you start to incorporate healthier eating habits into your child’s daily routine, remember that it doesn’t happen overnight. Every little bit counts and that’s okay! Making small changes can make more of a difference than you realize.

Of course, Pediatric Dental Specialists is here to support you and your family every step of the way. If you ever need any other ideas to help your little one eat healthier, don’t be afraid to reach out!