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A mouth-healthy diet can go a long way in helping your entire family improve their oral health, but can also better your general health as well. Here are 5 foods that your teeth – and stomach – will love. 

1 - Probiotic Yogurt 

Probiotic yogurt is an absolute must-have for those seeking mouth & gut health. Yogurt contains calcium, which builds strong tooth enamel, and casein, a protein that helps prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth and causing plaque buildup. Probiotic yogurt is also packed with healthy enzymes that improve digestion, and probiotics that help remove bad gut bacteria that can lead to inflammation and cramping.

2 - Kale 

Kale, and other vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, are all fantastic for teeth and promoting stomach health. Kale is high in water and fiber, which promotes healthy digestion. Plus, fiber naturally cleans teeth of food debris, thereby helping to prevent plaque buildup. Kale also contains glucosinolates, which helps fight inflammation and aids in regular food digestion. 

3 - Mangos 

Mangos help keep healthy gut bacteria alive, which promotes regular and healthy digestion. They are also packed with vitamin C, which aids the development and maintenance of healthy gums. When shopping, buy whole mangos, rather than mangos stored in preservatives that are packed in sugar.  

4 - Dark Chocolate 

Healthy food can also be delicious, just look at dark chocolate! Dark chocolate has some amazing benefits for teeth. It contains flavonoids, which help eliminate bad oral bacteria that fuels cavities and tooth decay. Dark chocolate helps gut health by feeding healthy gut bacteria responsible for breaking down and digesting food.  

5 – Almond Butter 

Whole, raw almonds can be tough on teeth, but almond butter can be amazing for teeth and digestive health. Almond butter is packed with calcium, which helps build strong teeth, healthy gums, and strong tooth enamel. Almond butter also contains a good amount of healthy dietary fiber, which promotes regular digestion. By eating almond butter instead of almonds, you can still take advantage of their nutritional benefits without the risk of cracking your teeth. When shopping for almond butter, buy a jar that is minimally processed and contains the most amount of fiber. 

Try a Mouth-Healthy Diet 

When shopping for mouth-healthy food, try to get a lot of whole fruits and vegetables and incorporate plenty of healthy fiber. Try to avoid fruit packed in sugary syrup, as well as starchy carbohydrates that can stick to teeth and fuel unhealthy plaque buildup.

A healthy mouth is something that parents can help their child attain right in the comfort of their own home. Here are 4 important keys to a healthy mouth for children – and adults!

1 – Maintain a Proper Oral Health Routine 

Food debris left on your child’s teeth encourages bacteria growth that eats away at enamel and causes cavities. This is why it’s important to have a steady, consistent oral health routine. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends children brush twice per day, for two minutes at a time, and floss once per day to clean debris from the hard-to-reach areas of their teeth. A proper oral health routine is the best way to keep a mouth clean, and prevents a lot of oral health ailments. 

2 – Drink More Water

Water is a fantastic tool in the fight against bad bacteria and tooth decay. Water is not acidic, and does not harm teeth at all. In fact, it improves saliva production, which naturally cleans teeth of debris and restores the mouth back to a healthy ph balance. Try giving your child more water instead of sugary drinks to help keep their teeth strong and healthy. If they must have juice or a sweeter drink, water it down so that they aren’t consuming too much sugar at one time. 

3 – Limit Sugar 

Sugar feeds the bad bacteria on teeth, causing plaque and ultimately cavities, which is why you should limit the number of sugary foods and drinks that your child consumes. Before buying snacks, check the back of the package for the amount of sugar contained in the package. Try to avoid sugary drinks like soda, fruit juice and sports drinks, all of which are notoriously high in sugar.

Additionally, reconsider how many starchy snacks like bread, chips and crisps you give your child. Starch can stick onto teeth, and turn into a food-source for bad bacteria that lead to cavities.

4 – Eat a Mouth-Healthy Diet 

A healthy diet is critical to getting a healthy mouth. Mouth-healthy foods like fruit, vegetables, nuts and calcium-rich items can all strengthen teeth. When buying fruit and vegetables, make sure that you purchase them in their full-forms, and that you don’t buy fruit packaged in sugary syrup. Try adding fibrous vegetables like celery, spinach or carrots to your child’s diet, since fibrous food naturally scrubs teeth clean of food debris, and combats bad bacteria buildup.

Does Your Child have a Healthy Mouth? 

The best way to help your child achieve a healthy smile is by scheduling an appointment with our dental office so that we can evaluate the state of their oral health. Our team of dentists will give you a status report, and offer any treatment necessary to get your child the healthy smile they deserve.

Children can get bad breath from a variety of sources, and it’s actually an incredibly common and treatable condition. In fact, 50% of Americans are diagnosed with bad halitosis (bad breath) each year. But never fret, bad breath comes from a number of innocent sources, most of which can be easily fixed.

Poor Oral Hygiene Habits 

The number one cause of halitosis in children is poor oral hygiene. Luckily, a proper oral care routine is incredibly easy to achieve. To start, make sure that your child has a fresh toothbrush, that is under 3-months old and has bristles that don’t plume outward. Also, be sure that they have floss that is comfortable for them to use, and appropriate for their age.

Make sure your child brushes twice per day for two minutes at a time, and flosses once per day. When flossing, stress the importance of hitting both sides of the tooth, and beneath the gum line so that they clean their entire tooth.

Leftover Food 

Food sometimes sticks around long after mealtime, and it can cause really stinky breath – especially in children! If your child has food stuck in their teeth, then have them swish cool water in their mouth vigorously for 30 seconds. If that doesn’t work, then have them floss into the affected crevice to remove any leftover food.

Dry Mouth 

Saliva naturally cleans the mouth, and a dry mouth can cause bad breath. Dry mouth can usually be fixed by eating foods that increase saliva production like cheese, apples or carrots. Make sure your child gets enough water – 8 to 10 cups per day- and if that doesn’t help, then try chewing gum sweetened with xylitol – a healthy sugar substitute – to increase their saliva flow.

Dietary Choices 

Food can - and absolutely does - lead to bad breath.  Certain foods like garlic, onions, fish and spicy foods can turn even the best breath sour. Even dairy – which strengthens teeth and enamel – can cause bad breath. Make sure your children drink plenty of water at mealtime to help keep their teeth free of food debris.

Medication 

If your child just recently began a new medication, then it could be causing their bad breath. Sometimes generic medications like antihistamines can decrease saliva and lead to dry mouth – which can cause bad breath. To combat this, parent can make sure that their children are maintaining a proper oral care routine by brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time, and flossing once per day.

Visit Our Office 

If your child has bad breath that is not alleviated by brushing and proper oral care, then visit our office. Our team can diagnose the cause of your child’s bad breath, and provide a treatment plan that will help them have more confidence in their smile.

Adequate sleep is vital to leading a healthy life – regardless of age. For parents, it can be tough to know how much sleep your child should get every night. Here’s a quick guide outlining the amount of sleep your child needs for each stage of their development.  

Newborns (0 – 3 months): 10 – 18 hours

New parents understand one truth: sleep is hard to come by with a newborn baby. That’s because newborns need a total of 10 – 18 hours of sleep per day on an irregular schedule. Newborns will fuss, cry or rub their eyes when they need to sleep, so parent should pay attention to their gestures to understand when to put them to bed.

Infants (4 – 11 months): 10 – 18 hours

By the infant stage, babies are usually capable of sleeping through the night for 9 – 12 hours. In addition, most infants will take 2 – 4 naps per day, which can last between 30 minutes to 2 hours. Parents should put their infants to bed when they become sleepy, rather than waiting for them to fall asleep. This helps them to become self-soothers, and teaches them to fall asleep on their own.

Toddlers (1 – 2 years): 9 – 16 hours

Around 18 months, your toddler will begin needing less frequent naps, and may only take one nap, for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Many toddlers resist going to bed at bedtime, and nighttime awakening. This is incredibly common, and parents can help their toddlers sleep through the night by setting a consistent bedtime schedule.

Preschoolers (3 – 5 years): 8 – 14 hours

Preschoolers typically sleep between 11 – 13 hours per night, and only require one nap per day. As with toddlers, preschoolers can experience difficulty sleeping through the night, and some resist bedtime. Parents can help children get past this with a security item like a blanket or teddy bear, which can comfort children through the night.

Children (6 – 13 years): 8 – 12 hours

As a child’s schedule increases with school and social activities, their need for a good night’s rest increases too. Typically, children don’t need naps, but do need to get a solid 8 – 12 hours of sleep per night.  Try limiting TV and digital entertainment before bed, which can make it more difficult for a child to fall asleep.

Teens (14 – 17 years): 7 – 11 hours

By this point, your teen should be able to sleep comfortably throughout the night, and may only need one nap per day, between 20 – 40 minutes. In fact, your child may come to value their sleep and need no instruction to go to bed. Try to emphasize the importance of adequate sleep with your child, and establish a bedtime routine that takes TV’s and computers out of their bedroom, and avoid caffeinated beverages at dinner so that they don’t have extra energy before bed.

Does Your Child Snore or Miss Sleep?

If your child has difficulty sleeping through the night, or snores in their sleep, then they may have sleep apnea. Poor and inadequate sleep can lead to developmental problems, mood swings, and impact your child’s ability to learn. Talk to us about your child’s sleep routine, and pay attention to your child’s nightly routine to see if there are any routines that may be impeding their ability to sleep.