Toddler Teeth Care

What toddlers eat can define their oral health, and much to their parents’ chagrin, most toddlers are drawn to sugary foods that challenge good eating habits and healthy smiles. For that reason, parents should get in the habit of working around poor habits in their kids with the following suggestions.

Hot or Cold? Seasoned or Plain?

Most toddlers reject a new food the first time, and a lot of parents give up too quickly. Some children need to try a new food several times before they grow to like it. Sometimes, it isn’t the food itself; for instance, it may be the way it is cooked. Try serving healthy foods a few different ways to determine a combination your child loves. Seasoning can affect toddlers’ preferences as well—what works for our palate may not appeal to theirs. Try to introduce foods to them that are both plain and seasoned. These little changes can make a big difference in your toddler’s oral health.

Supervise Tough Foods

Crunchy vegetables and fruits may be good for teeth, but they can be an issue for toddlers. When you give your child something crunchy, such as carrots, supervise to prevent choking accidents or serve in slices instead. If carrots are too much for their teeth, peeled apple slices are an easier transition to tough foods.

Encourage More Milk

After a child eats sugary foods and carbohydrates, acids from bacteria attack teeth in the first half hour. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered that a glass of milk can help prevent these acid attacks. Water can help too, but the calcium in milk is better for neutralizing acid. If white milk is another item on your toddler’s list of dislikes, then chocolate milk may be an easier approach. Chocolate milk is still better than any sugary drink your child may prefer. Also, consider the percentage of milk as this could affect a toddler’s preference as well.

Avoid Sugar

It’s no secret that sugar can lead to tooth decay and cavities. However, toddlers still love them, and parents can find middle ground by limiting them. Fruits in substitute of candy bars can help. They are part of a balanced diet and can help prevent cavities. Fruits like strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are low in sugar and fun treats for kids.

Multigrain

Foods made with oats, grains, and bran are also low in sugar. For toddlers with tiny teeth, make sure to get granola and oatmeal that are marked low fat and sugar free to make sure you're getting a product that's gentle enough for toddlers’ teeth.

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