Diet

What your child eats and drinks can also contribute to cavities. We encourage parents to offer age appropriate healthy snacks to their kids, such as carrot or celery sticks, fresh fruit, string cheese, and yogurt.

Things to avoid as snacks would include any kind of “gummy” treat, fruit snacks, sugared cereal, crackers or cookies that tend to stay crushed in the grooves of teeth.

Also, what a child drinks routinely can make a big difference. Of course, we all know soda is bad for teeth, but fruit juices can also contribute to more cavities. Fruit juices are best consumed with a meal. Water is the best alternative for sipping throughout the day.

Below is a list of smart snacks for healthy teeth:

Things That Are Good For You!

• Popcorn (old maids can be bad)
• Hard cheese
• String cheese
• Meats
• Rice cakes
• Sunflower seeds
• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables
• Peanut Butter
• Nuts
• Iced herbal teas
• Seltzer water
• Milk
• Water