Everybody knows that fruits and vegetables are an important part of every balanced diet, and should probably consist of a majority of our food intake. However, not enough thought goes into what foods are benefiting our teeth. When trying to get your child to eat
Everybody knows that fruits and vegetables are an important part of every balanced diet, and should probably consist of a majority of our food intake. However, not enough thought goes into what foods are benefiting our teeth. When trying to get your child to eat snacks that are good for their overall health, remember to consider what types of nutrients they are getting to protect their dental health, as well. Here are some fruits and vegetables that are good for your child’s dental health…
Spinach and other greens
The cartoons didn’t really show this, but Popeye’s spinach consumption didn’t just help his biceps, but also his classic smile. Spinach, along with other leafy greens, contain a lot of iron, which is necessary to keep your teeth strong. On top of that, spinach helps strengthen the enamel that protects your teeth, due to a chemical called beta-carotene.
This might be a bit of a loaded gun, since not all kids are going to be into eating seeds, but adding in a healthy dosage of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or sesame seeds into your child’s diet can help keep their smiles nice and healthy. These seeds have oil in them that hardens the enamel around teeth and reduces the risk of cavities. These seeds also contain a great deal of calcium, which is an important component for healthy bones, teeth included.
Apples not only are a nutritional boost to your child’s day, and a very healthy way to get some carbs in the morning, but also actually have the benefit of removing plaque from your child’s teeth as they eat. Crunchy fruits and vegetables have this effect, so you can get the same thing from carrots and celery.
It’s a common misconception that oranges are bad for your teeth because of their acidity. While orange juice, which is heavily concentrated in acidity, might eat away at enamel, oranges contain a great deal of vitamin C, which is not only important for developing strong teeth, but also helps fight against gum disease. One thing to remember, though, is that you should wait at least a half-an-hour to brush your teeth after eating citrus foods, since the acidity can temporarily make them fragile to the friction of brushing.