"Can my child's diet effect his/her teeth?"

Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese which are healthier and better for children’s teeth.
 

 MANY foods have the ability to support the cavity-causing bacteria, Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria survives and multiplies when fed frequently by any food that contains lactose (milk), fructose (honey), and starches (which are broken down to simple sugars in the mouth). Research has shown that the number of snacks between meals has a direct influence on Streptococcus mutans.For this reason, the new advice regarding the diet is not to counsel patients on what they should avoid eating, but rather to minimize the frequency of snacks. Simply stated, "Do not be a snacker, nibbler, or sipper between meals." Following this advice can greatly decrease you chance for developing cavities.

What's the Bottom Line...

	More snacking = more cavities
	One big snack is better than three little snacks
	After any snack/or sip always rinse with water or chew xylitol gum