Our health begins in the mouth!
That’s why it’s important that parents ascertain their child’s oral health too! Apart from strong teeth, he also needs strong gums.
However, kids are picky eaters and always run away from brush and bath. This makes it very difficult for a parent to maintain their dental hygiene. Whoever said brush twice a day never had a child to work with! 
But, is brushing and flossing the only way to ensure your kid’s dental care? Or does food play any role in maintaining the integrity of his mouth?
Source: https://blog.practiceplan.co.uk
What your child eats now plays an important role in maintaining his dental health. So, today, I will reveal those nutritional secrets to your kid’s dental care; what nutrients make your kid’s teeth and gums healthy.
Chew on this:
| Nutrient | Uses |
|---|---|
| Protein | A macro-nutrient present in organ meats, dairy foods, legumes and lentils. It is necessary for tooth structure*, mucosal and connective tissue development and immune function to fight the diseases of the mouth. |
| Calcium & Vitamin D | Present in most of the dairy items, they are important for tooth structure and enamel re-mineralisation. |
| Phosphorus | Present in meat and whole grains, it is an important mineral for development and maintenance of tooth structure. |
| Zinc | Important for mucosal/connective tissue of the mouth and immune function. Found in seafood and fortified breakfast cereals. |
| Folate | Important for maintaining the periodontal integrity and mucosal tissue. Found in most fruits and vegetables. |
| Iron | Present in greens and legumes, it is required for mucosal tissue and oral immunity. |
| Vitamin C | Found in citrus fruits, it is important for collagen maturation and maintenance of periodontal ligament. |
| Omega-3-fatty acids | Present in nuts and seeds and most fishes, it checks the inflammatory responses in the oral cavity. |
| B vitamins | They maintain the epithelial cells in the mucosal lining of the mouth. Sources include spinach, beans, nuts and seeds, soymilk, eggs and dairy, fish and chicken. |
*Tooth structure
Source: openi.nlm.nih.gov
The nutrients mentioned above help in developing healthy teeth and gums of your child.
But when you go shopping, you actually cannot search for a particular nutrient.
So, How to Take Care of your Child’s Teeth?
Luckily, you need not make any extra effort to choose foods for your kid’s dental care. These special foods take care of your child’s dental health:
Probiotics
Probiotics are the food items containing live bacteria in them.
Scared?
Don’t worry! These live bacteria are the good bacteria which suppress the growth of other harmful pathogens in the oral cavity. They also improve digestive health.
Source: bestrealhealth.com
Found mostly in fermented foods, probiotics help to decrease gingivitis (swelling of the gums) and plaque formation. Consumption of fermented dairy products is also useful for preventing periodontal diseases.
Berries
Berries like cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries are rich in a compound known as anthocyanins. This compound prevents the attachment and colonisation of pathogens in the oral cavity, gums, and teeth.
Source: neurosonicsaudiomedical.com
Anthocyanins are also found in red cabbage and eggplant (baingan) peel. They act as antioxidants and flavonoids and prevent free radical damage and inflammation of the gums. However, being rich in staining compounds like flavonoids, eating too many berries can lead to teeth staining. So, it’s advisable to brush the teeth right after eating them.
Arginine-rich foods
Arginine is an amino acid found naturally in the saliva along with calcium. It lowers the pH of the mouth and prevents the growth of bacteria and cavity formation.
You might find this amino acid at the back of your toothpaste tube.
Arginine can also be supplemented via diet. Arginine-rich foods include pumpkin seeds, soybeans, peanuts, chicken, pork loin, chickpeas, and lentils.
Source: consciouslifenews.com
Whole foods
Whole foods are defined as plant-based foods that are unprocessed and unrefined. Chewing whole foods will make your mouth, gums and teeth exercise a little.
Also, whole foods help in the production of more saliva and keep bacteria at bay. Examples of whole food are whole grains, tubers (plant parts that grow under the soil surface like potato, sweet potato, beetroot, etc.), fresh and raw fruits and vegetables, and legumes.
Source: 1vigor.com
Being a Nutritionist, it was impossible for me not to mention this nutrient’s truth in our dental care!
Fluoride
Source: openparachute.wordpress.com
Fluoride helps prevent cavities and tooth decay by coming in direct contact with the tooth enamel (outside of the tooth). Therefore, you find many types of toothpaste containing fluoride in them.
However, if you consume fluoride from sources such as drinking water, it gets absorbed into the bloodstream. It then attacks the enamel from inside and causes mottling of the teeth (discolouration and pitting of teeth). This condition is known as fluorosis.
Thus, brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride-rich toothpaste is enough to promote re-mineralisation of the enamel and maintain teeth integrity. You need not consume fluoride in your diet.
Bonus Secrets
How Can You Ensure Healthy Smiles for Kids?
Source: sereneoaksdental.com
You can do this by following the instructions given below for oral hygiene which:
- Prevent sticking of food in between the teeth and gums
- Protect from tooth decay
- Check bacterial growth in the oral cavity
- Motivate the child to take care of his dental health
- Regulate the production of saliva
- Maintain a healthy digestive system
Conclusion
Health is from head to toe; mouth being the first organ of our digestive system requires extra care.
But, it’s only a few of us that actually understand the importance of food for oral and dental care. I feel happy that you and I are amongst those few now. After all, a healthy smile at the end of the day is all that matters!
Have any other suggestions for the kid’s dental care? Share them in the comments below!
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Know more about the right nutrients to feed your child for his overall health, directly from the mouth of our dietician and nutritionist.
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8 Comments
Amarjeet Soniamadaan · September 14, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Informative.
Dr Vinita Vashist · September 14, 2018 at 7:02 pm
Hello Amarjeet
Thank you for the read and your appreciation.
Ceramic Braces Littleton · February 8, 2019 at 9:51 am
Really informative post. keep sharing the knowledge. Thank you.
Vinita · February 22, 2019 at 2:46 pm
Thank you Ceramic Braces Littleton for taking out the time to read. It is a personal motivation for me.Keep Reading
Laticia Gibson · February 20, 2019 at 6:32 pm
It is quite a hard task to keep the dental health of the kids in good condition. As they eat too much junk foods which is not good for their oral health. Thanks for posting these amazing tips it will definitely going to help the parents in keeping the dental health of there kids in good condition.
Vinita · February 22, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Thank you Laticia. Yes I completely agree, with a change in lifestyle and dietary habits of today’s kids it is difficult to stick with a routine. Therefore I had tried to include as many things as possible for more variety. Thank you for reading 🙂
jesssica morgan · March 28, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Thank you for sharing this wonderful article. I’ll be looking forward to more of such posts from you.
Jake slessor · April 8, 2019 at 11:14 am
Really nice blog. Its really very important to know about kids dental health and have good dental health.
Jake slessor recently posted…Top Orthodontist Aventura – A Complete Guide On The Roles They Play