{"id":96,"date":"2024-11-22T16:09:06","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T16:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coralkids.ca\/blog\/?p=96"},"modified":"2024-11-22T16:09:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T16:09:06","slug":"4-healthy-switches-to-make-in-your-childs-diet-to-reduce-cavities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coralkids.ca\/blog\/2024\/11\/22\/4-healthy-switches-to-make-in-your-childs-diet-to-reduce-cavities\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Healthy Switches to Make in Your Child\u2019s Diet to Reduce Cavities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Above asthma and allergies, cavities rank as the most common childhood condition worldwide. In fact, 59 percent of children up to age 19 in Canada have experienced at least one cavity. Tooth decay can cause severe pain, impair your child\u2019s ability to bite and chew food, and damage their self-confidence. Although treatments like tooth-coloured fillings<\/a> can repair decay, every little effort you can make to help your child avoid cavities is worthwhile. Fortunately, there are small adjustments you can make in their snacks and diet that can make a significant difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Fresh Fruit Instead of Candy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At face value, this switch may seem like a hard sell, but even if you replace a little bit of candy every day with some fruit, it can be beneficial. Candy is loaded with processed sugar, whereas fresh fruit has a reasonable amount of natural sugar with vitamins they need. The various types of fruit give you plenty of options you can explore with your child, help them find their favorites, and try out new recipes that highlight nature\u2019s sweetness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheese Instead of Crackers, Chips, or Cookies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Candy isn\u2019t the only common cavity-causing food. Starch or carb-heavy foods like cookies, chips, and crackers break down much like sugar, feeding harmful bacteria in your child\u2019s mouth. Cheese, on the other hand, contains little sugar or carbs, provides protein and calcium your child needs to grow, and significantly reduces the risk of cavities by strengthening tooth enamel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yogurt Instead of Dried Fruit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At first, dried fruit may seem like a healthy alternative to candy. However, with the moisture removed, dried fruit becomes sticky just like gummy fruit snacks. As a result, it adheres to teeth, making it easier for cavities to form. Giving your child trail mix on to the go every now and then is just fine, but try to avoid raisins or other dried fruit snacks too often. Like cheese, yogurt can offer a source of calcium and protein, and if you add your own fresh fruit, it can be an enjoyable treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smoothies or Water Instead of Juice, Sports Drinks, or Soda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most fruit juices consist of concentrate with a ton of sugar. Even if the label on a soda or sports drink says low or no sugar, chances are the beverage is still acidic and will erode enamel. A tasty alternative packed with nutrients is smoothies. Blend up fresh or frozen fruit, and your child can still feel like they\u2019re having a special drink. However, water by far reigns as the healthiest beverage for your child\u2019s body and mouth, so try to encourage them to sip this throughout the day and after meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower Frequency and Better Timing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may surprise you to learn that the frequency your child has sugar matters more than the actual amount of sugar your child consumes. In other words, if your child grazes throughout the day, their teeth never get a break from sugar and starch, increasing the risk of cavities. If, however, they eat sugary foods immediately after a meal and don\u2019t snack before the next one, sugar poses a smaller threat to their growing smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, obviously brushing and flossing are still vital to prevent cavities, but making these little changes can keep bad bacteria from harming your child\u2019s primary and permanent teeth both in their childhood and throughout their adult lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coral Kids Dentistry & Braces is proud to have three highly qualified pediatric dentists<\/a> on staff who share the same goal of making dental visits a better experience for kids. In addition to treating cavities with tooth-coloured fillings and crowns, we strive to prevent decay in the first place by recommending regular checkups and cleanings. If you need to schedule an appointment for your child, contact our St. Catherines office online<\/a> or call us at 905-684-5437.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Above asthma and allergies, cavities rank as the most common childhood condition worldwide. In fact, 59 percent of children up to age 19 in Canada have experienced at least one cavity. Tooth decay can cause severe pain, impair your child\u2019s ability to bite and chew food, and damage their self-confidence. Although treatments like tooth-coloured fillings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Healthy Switches to Make in Your Child\u2019s Diet to Reduce Cavities - Coral Kids Dentistry & Braces Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tooth decay is very common, but these little changes in their snacks and diet can help your child avoid cavities.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.coralkids.ca\/blog\/2024\/11\/22\/4-healthy-switches-to-make-in-your-childs-diet-to-reduce-cavities\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"5 Healthy Switches to Make in Your Child\u2019s Diet to Reduce Cavities - 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