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Child nutrition: for healthy teeth!
Foods to watch out for to prevent cavities in children
Beware of hidden sugars. Ready-made meals, cold meats and aperitif cookies are full of highly cariogenic carbohydrates. Even if they have a salty flavor, their consumption should be moderate and also be followed by a good brushing of the teeth.
Limit the consumption of fruit juice. Rich in vitamins and appreciated by children, they are a good health ally. But beware of their acidity, which can promote demineralization of the teeth. Do not give your child more than one glass per day and instead offer him compotes and fruit cut into small cubes. Ask for sugar-free medication. And if your doctor has no choice, consider systematically rinsing your child’s mouth with water, especially if you are giving them their syrup at bedtime.
Foods to promote for healthy teeth
No deadlock on breakfast. All the studies show it: children who go to school hungry are more exposed to the risk of caries because they nibble more in the morning. The more food is taken, the more frequent and prolonged the production of acid is and the less saliva plays its protective role.
Calcium with every meal. Up to 3 years old, a child should drink at least half a liter of milk or the equivalent per day. After 3 years, her needs drop from 600 to 800 mg of calcium, which corresponds, on average, to 3 or 4 milkings a day. Cheeses are particularly interesting: the association of lipids and proteins combined with their high content of calcium and phosphorus protects the enamel from acid attacks.
Yes to chocolate. Here is a treat appreciated by dentists, provided of course not to abuse it! It melts quickly in the mouth, unlike candies whose sugar stays in contact with the teeth much longer. Rich in tannins, phosphorus and fluorine, it also helps protect the enamel.
Watch out for the bottle and everything mixed
Never a bottle to fall asleep. When a baby sucks normally, the sucking he exerts on the pacifier increases the flow of saliva which helps neutralize acid attacks. But when he falls asleep, the rhythm of his swallowing slows down, the production of saliva decreases while his mouth continues to be bathed in a sweet and acidifying bath. This is why he should not be left with a bottle of milk or fruit juice in his bed, at the risk of having early cavities, the serious form of which is commonly called bottle-feeding syndrome. It is best to encourage him to drink from a cup as soon as possible and of course never to give him sugar water.
From a year old, move on to small pieces. Soft, sticky foods prolong sugar-enamel contact and do not promote self-cleaning of dental surfaces. This is why it is so important to encourage chewing.