5 Tooth friendly snacking options Written By: Dr. Ankita Shah, April 2019
In today’s time and age kids are juggling between schools to sports training to dance lessons to homework. Their active and growing bodies need fueling in between. When children arrive home starving after a long day, they will grab whatever is easily available. And as a working parent, it can be quiet tempting to give your children ready to eat snacks. But sometimes these snacks are highly sticky and contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to cavities. However, you can give your child tooth friendly, healthy and tasty snacks. To encourage tooth friendly snacking, we’ve listed 5 quickest and easiest alternatives. You can always stock them up at home for kids to grab a quick snack."
CHEESE AND PANEER
The high calcium content of cheese and paneer promotes various health benefits. Additionally cheese and paneer also contains a protein called casein which increases the calcium and phosphates in plaque. This in turn neutralizes the effect of acid formed from sugary foods. Try adding cheese or paneer to your child’s diet especially after a chocolate exposure. It is an enjoyable snack for kids to dig in and also a great alternative to potato chips which are starchy and get easily stuck between your child’s teeth.
NUTS
Nuts like almonds, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds etc. are high in protein. Protein rich food has several benefits for your body and teeth. It’s important to keep your kids energized and what could be a better option than nuts. They are quite handy and chewing nuts increases salivation. This naturally protects and cleans your mouth of debris that can lead to cavities. Nuts are a great healthy alternative to biscuits that your kids may crave for.
VEGETABLES
Vegetables are high in fiber and are rich in vitamins and nutrients as well. The time taken to chew vegetables increase saliva production, which can help prevent cavities. It’s amazing to see how quickly children gobble up vegetables when they are served with delicious dips. It’s quite a healthy snack and a great alternative to packaged foods. Keep a bowl of carrots, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, corn etc. available for munching any time of the day.
FRUITS
Fruits are also high in fiber, which naturally washes away food particles by encouraging saliva production as they’re being eaten. They also rich in vitamins and nutrients. Although both fresh and dried fruit are packed with extra sugar, the sticky consistency of dried fruits invites bacteria to cause cavities which is even worse for your child’s teeth.
WHOLE GRAIN PITA CHIPS
The idea of crunchy cucumber slices may not be as appetizing as a salty snack like popcorn or chips. Popcorns, chips and biscuits could get easily stuck in your child’s teeth and lead to decay. You could try whole grain pita chips with hummus, guacamole or a yogurt-based dip. These healthier options aren’t just better for teeth but they are by and large healthier alternatives for your body as well.
A healthy outside starts from a healthy inside. Did you check the type of snack before you started munching today? Is it loaded with sugar? It’s best for your teeth to pig out once on sweets than to snack on it all day. Few of the tooth friendly options mentioned above and regular brushing after meals can help your child have a cavity free mouth.
Healthy teeth lays down a foundation for an overall healthy eating. Chew your way to oral health naturally!
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Keywords : tooth friendly snack, child’s tooth, diet, healthy mouth, cheese, paneer, fruits and vegetables, pita, nuts
Note : This article was written and published by Dr. Ankita Shah for WorldOfMoms.