After-School Snacks for Healthy Teeth

GROWING BODIES NEED a lot of fuel, and that means a lot of after-school snacks.  The nature of those snacks can have a big impact on a child’s oral health during this critical period when they are losing baby teeth and growing in their permanent set.  So which snacks are the best ones if you are trying to watch out for your children’s oral health?

Snacks To Avoid

Most children would eat cookies and candy and drink soda pop all day if they could, but these tasty treats are not just bad for their health, they are bad for their teeth.  Many types of bacteria live in our mouths, some good, some bad.  Sugar happens to be the bad bacteria’s favorite food, and after they eat it, they excrete acid onto our teeth as a waste product, which can dissolve our enamel and lead to tooth decay.  Carbonated drinks contain acids that can harm our teeth too, and most fruit juice has as much sugar as soda.


The Right Snacks

If sugary foods and drinks are the wrong kinds of snacks for healthy teeth, then what are the right ones?  You cannot go wrong with fresh fruits and vegetables, and cheese and nuts are great snacks too!  Foods like apples and strawberries can actually scrub our teeth clean as we eat them.

If your child is picky about eating fruits and veggies, then try some yogurt with berries mixed in or hummus dip to go with the carrots and celery sticks.  Do not forget to wash those snacks down with a refreshing glass of milk or water!  Beyond being a good source of calcium, milk is a mild base and can reduce the impact of eating acidic foods.

Timing Matters Too

After we eat, it takes about half an hour for saliva to neutralize any leftover acids and wash away any remaining food particles from our latest meal or snack.  However, if we constantly snack throughout the day, our saliva will not be able to do its job.  This is why it is better for our children’s oral health if they stick to designated snack times instead of always having something to munch on throughout the day — even when the snacks in question are healthy ones.

Snacks Are One Part Of The Equation


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