February is National Children’s Oral Health Month.  It’s commonly known that brushing and flossing your teeth can help prevent cavities.  Did you know what you feed your child is just as important for a healthy mouth?  We’re celebrating National Children’s Oral Health Month by sharing some of our favorite healthy and nutritional foods and beverages!

Drinks:

• Make water your child’s go to drink.  It helps rinse off food and increases the pH of their mouth making it harder for cavity causing bacteria to live.

• Avoid soda, juice and other sugary drinks.  These drinks are fuel to cavities!

• Milk is a great option and has many benefits.  One of them is that it is rich in calcium which helps promote healthy teeth and bones.

• Limit juice to once a day.  For children 1 to 6 years of age no more than 6 ounces.  Children 7 and older should be limited to 12 ounces a day.  If possible try to dilute the juice with water.

Food:

• Offer up some crunchy veggies, think celery and carrots.  Both act like a natural teeth cleaner and carrots have the added bonus of having lots of vitamin C, calcium and keratins.

• Fruits, such as apples which naturally clean the teeth and pears which neutralize the mouth are great snack options.

• Cheeses and yogurts, just like milk, are calcium rich and help make bones stronger.

• Try to sneak in broccoli or leafy greens for a healthy, vitamin packed snack or side dish.

• Limit snacks that contain carbohydrates since they have lots of sugars in them. Try to substitute them out with some of the foods we described earlier.

Remember nothing replaces good oral hygiene which includes brushing twice a day for two minutes, daily flossing and regular dental check ups when it comes to children’s oral health.