If kids could pick their own snacks, they would likely choose candy, chocolate, chips, and other foods that can harm their teeth. That's why it's up to parents to teach their children about healthy snacking. Thankfully, you're not in this alone.
As a children's dentist in West Edmonton, Westmount Dental Centre is always happy to help. Here are some of our top suggestions for tooth-friendly snacks for kids. - Cheese Low in sugar and available in many different varieties, cheese is one snack that most kids love and that is good for their oral health as well. Cheese stimulates saliva, which flushes away bacteria and good particles, and the calcium and phosphates it contains help to build strong teeth. Cheese is an easy and light snack to serve at home. - Fresh fruit Fresh fruit is not only a good source of important nutrients, but it also tends to have a high water content which, like saliva, helps to clean the teeth. Some of the best fruits for good oral health are apples, pears, and melons. Fresh fruit makes a great addition to a school lunch. - Crunchy vegetables Eating a crunchy, fibrous vegetable such as celery, broccoli, and carrots is a bit like brushing your teeth. The extra chewing also helps to stimulate saliva production. If your child is going to a sporting or dance event, then crunchy vegetables are an easy-to-eat snack that will help keep them energized. - Nuts Like crunchy vegetables, nuts scrub the surfaces of the teeth while you eat them, scraping away bacteria and other debris. They are also low in sugar and packed with nutrients. Peanuts, cashews, and walnuts are all good for snacking and easy to pack for long car rides or family outings. - Smoothies Homemade smoothies with a limited sugar content and a good mix of fruits and vegetables are a great snack for kids. Plus, all you need is the ingredients and a blender. If you're interested in making your own smoothies, then we've got some tooth-healthy smoothie recipes for you. Strengthening a Toddler's Growing Teeth Once a toddler is able to chew solid foods, you can definitely begin offering the snacks above to strengthen their teeth and give them a jump start on good oral health. This will help you avoid getting them hooked on cavity-causing snacks that are full of sugar and carbohydrates. Incorporating more eggs and butter into your cooking is recommended as well, as both are a fantastic source of fat-soluble vitamins that help build strong and healthy teeth. Schedule Your Child's First Visit with a Kids Dentist in Edmonton Help set your child up for a lifetime of good oral health by choosing an experienced pediatric dentist in Edmonton who can answer all of your questions and perform regular oral health examinations. At Westmount Dental Centre, we offer free-of-charge "happy visits" that allow a child to get acquainted with our clinic and our team so that they feel more comfortable when they return for regular dental visits. To book your child's first visit with one of our Edmonton dentists, just contact Westmount Dental Centre today.