For parents everywhere, their child’s wellbeing is paramount.
Caring for your children’s teeth is a very important element of their overall health.
Parents should be conscious about the frequency of sugar intake when it comes to protecting their child’s teeth, Dr Dana Mohebbati-Arany from Tower Dental in Balwyn says.
“Dentists push for three solid meals a day rather than snacking between meals,” she said.
“If children were to have a special treat, have it with a meal, so it’s less of an attack on the teeth.”
Another important tip for good dental health in children is encouraging them to chew their food properly.
“It may help with jaw development, it may have benefits preventing dental crowding and building the jaws to their maximum potential.”Dr Dana Mohebbati-Arany encourages children to eat fruit, and explains apples are particularly beneficial to oral health.
“There are simple sugars in an apple, but there’s also a lot of fibre. And that fibre is going to collect a lot of food in the mouth and help it pass down and not stick to the teeth, she said. “Vegetables, meats, anything that is going to stimulate the saliva is great.“Steering away from processed, sugary food and eating fibrous chewy foods is the key.”
When it comes to dairy, Dr Dana Mohebbati-Arany explains calcium in dairy helps re-mineralise the teeth to protect them and prevent decay.
“Milk has a neutral pH – we want to steer clear of acidic foods and drinks,” she said.
“And there is the all important tap water! Tap water is the number one option for a drink- it’s fluoridated, free and it offers protection.
“Something I am concerned about is dehydration – a lot of people aren’t drinking enough water, if you are dehydrated you don’t have a lot of salvia which is very protective against decay.”
There are foods and drinks to avoid, too.
“In general avoid sticky and sweet foods, they will adhere to the tooth surface, bacteria in the mouth will feed on those sugars, particularly in between meals,” she said.Dr Dana Mohebbati-Arany advises against soft drink, particularly caffeinated soft drink which reduces saliva, is high in sugar, can be acidic and stain the teeth.
“Even mineral and soda water can contribute to tooth erosion,” she said.
Tower Dental is located at 1 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn call 9817 7144 to make an appointment.
