Diet choices perfect for your toddler's teeth

The food we feed our toddlers also have an effect on their teeth; it is best to feed our toddlers a balanced diet that  contains whole grains, fruits and veggies, calcium-rich options, and plenty of protein.

Here are some diet choices that make for good toddler’s teeth:

Cheese: Rich in calcium, cheese protects and makes the teeth enamel strong. Cheese also contains phosphates that combine with the calcium to balance the pH content in the toddler’s mouth making it less hospitable for bacteria cause cavities.

Serve cheese by cutting it into small cubes or in fun shapes with a cookie cutter. You could also serve them as kebabs with kid friendly berries as straw berries sliced into quarters. 

 

Cranberries: Cranberries and their juice contain certain compounds that coat the teeth and make them tougher to cavity causing bacteria.

Start your kid’s day with a slice of cranberry bread or muffin baked with fresh or frozen cranberry; however never serve dried cranberry or any dried fruit as they are loaded with sugar, stick to the teeth and cause cavities.

Sweet potatoes: Yes, he/she is right to love comforting cross between regular spuds and a slice of yummy pumpkin pie; sweet potatoes is a rich source of Vitamin A that helps form tooth enamel.

Baked sweet potatoes are a hit among kids; you could also serve them pureed in a batter for pancakes or waffles. Steamed carrots and broccoli are equally good.

Apples: You should sure know that it is a healthier way to end a meal with a crunchy palate-cleanser as a serving of diced apples than a chocolate-chip cookie; abrasive foods like apples and carrots act as mini-toothbrushes massaging the gums and cleaning the teeth. Also these chewing foods produce saliva that wash off cavity causing bacteria.

Crunchy foods like apples and carrots could pose choking hazards to preschooler; always serve them cut into ½ an inch cubes or even thinner.

Vitamin-C rich foods: These fruits like oranges, kiwis, papayas, strawberries, and mangoes are low in refined sugar that minimizes tooth decay. The Vitamin C in them helps keep gums healthy and protect them against gingivitis.

It is perfect to serve navel oranges with the seeds removed or as Clementine sections; you could also serve your kid some mini cubes of strawberry, papaya, and mango as a dip with yogurt providing Vitamin C and calcium, a double dose of tooth-saving nutrients.  

Water: Most kids would prefer juice or a carbonated beverage for water, but water is a key part of any diet for healthy teeth. Unlike juice or even milk, water contains no decay-causing sugars and also rinses away food particles that get trapped between their choppers. Also tap water contains fluoride that strengthens tooth enamel.

Serve plain water in cute reusable water bottles or through a crazy curly straw. You could also thrill your toddler by serving plain water mixed with flavored carbonated water or a small amount of juice.  

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