Adding more fruits to your child’s daily diet is a delicious and natural way to help them improve their oral health. Certain foods can help strengthen enamel, reduce cavities, and keep periodontal disease at bay. However, there are some healthy options that should be limited to protect your little one’s teeth and gums. Your Irving kid’s dentist explains how you can keep your son or daughter’s smile healthy with the right fruits!
Can Fruit be Bad for Teeth?
Fruits are brimming with a variety of vitamins and minerals that are important for both your child’s oral and overall health. However, they’re not all equally beneficial. Some items you should limit or avoid include:
- Dried fruit: These sticky, chewy snacks contain much more sugar than their hydrated counterparts and can cause more cavities as a result.
- Sugary fruit juice: While they may have more nutrients, some juices contain just as much sugar and are just as acidic as a can of soda.
- Citrus fruits: Eating too many acidic citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits can soften your child’s enamel and leave it more susceptible to decay.
Top 3 Smile-Friendly Fruits for Kids
Thankfully, there are plenty of fruits that can keep a growing smile healthy and strong. Some of the best options for your little one to snack on are:
- Apples: Eating more apples can help prevent cavities since they contain high amounts of fiber and water. They gently scrub away plaque from your child’s teeth and help wash away any lingering particles. As an added bonus, they can also help fight bad breath!
- Kiwis: Although dairy products are well-known for containing calcium, kiwis are another excellent source of this important mineral. Calcium fortifies enamel and strengthens both the jawbone and the connective tissues that hold the teeth in place.
- Strawberries: To add more vitamin C to your son or daughter’s diet while protecting them from acidic citrus fruits, give them more strawberries. A half cup of these popular berries supplies about 70% of the daily recommendation of vitamin C. Additionally, it helps produce collagen, which is essential for strong, healthy gums.
Adding more fruit into your son or daughter’s life is a great way to impact their overall health and their smile. When choosing their foods, keep these healthy snack suggestions from your Irving family dentist in mind to help boost their oral health.
About the Practice
At Rio Dental & Orthodontics in Irving, Farmers Branch, and Fort Worth, TX, we want your son or daughter to enjoy taking care of their smile. That’s why we’ve created a fun-filled environment to help them feel as relaxed and confident as possible. When they’re in the dentist’s chair, our board-certified pediatric dentists will make sure they get the specialized treatments they need and the great experience they deserve. To learn more about our children’s dentistry services, feel free to contact any of our offices at our website or the phone numbers listed there.
