What snacks are good
for my child’s teeth?

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to select good snacks for our kids. Our children’s tendency to snack, graze, munch, and sip throughout the day is the number one contributor to high risk for dental decay. So, please consider educating yourself on how the bacteria works in your child’s mouth. Snacking and sipping on foods will quickly tip your child’s teeth to the cavity-prone side of the scale. 

I have previously written on what snacks are good for children's teeth. I also recommend that you check out this list of healthy snack recommendations as a resource to help you select good snacks and escape the common traps that a lot of parents fall into when choosing healthy snacks for their kids.

A child’s frequency to snack on high sugar snacks and why they attack their teeth

We understand how difficult it can be to get your child to eat healthy snacks and especially snacks that are good for your child's teeth. 

However, there is some good news! A key component to eating healthy and choosing the best healthy snacks for your child is keeping one thing in mind; Sugar.

Frequent snacking is the number one source for cavities. It's important when shopping for good snacks for your kids to note the amount of sugar in the snack, including any added sweeteners like corn syrup etc… Sugars that occur naturally aren’t as concerning, and you can find them in healthy choices like fruit and milk. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends, that children ages 3 and older should not consume more than 12.5 tsp of sugar a day. That’s approximately the amount of sugar that can be found in a can of soda.

A reason why sugar is so harmful to our teeth is that the bacteria in the mouth will feed on it, it then uses it to create acid which then attacks the enamel of your child’s teeth. 

Sticky snacks and snacks that are high in carbohydrates are ones you should avoid. 

For example:

  • Goldfish
  • Fruit roll ups
  • Gummy vitamins
  • Granola bars etc...

If your child wants a sweet snack, try giving them chocolate with a higher cocoa content. That kind of sugary sweet is less harmful to their teeth. 

There are so many snacks you can choose from, so what snacks are good?

Here are some that top the list that are better for your child’s teeth:

  • Vegetables
  • Fresh fruit
  • Yesterday’s dinner

You can download a comprehensive list of healthy snacks for your kids here. Ask your pediatric dentist for other recommendations tailored to your child for healthy snack options.

If you have any other questions or would like to schedule an appointment for your child contact us at Scripps Pediatric Dentistry. 

Do you have a question about your child’s oral health that you would like to submit to #AskDrJ? Click here to submit your question

J. Shahangian

DDS, MS, CLEC, FAAPD

Dr. J is a board certified pediatric dentist and owner of Scripps Pediatric Dentistry & Brush n Brace, pediatric dental offices located in San Diego, CA. He is not only a Diplomat with the board but now also has Fellow status with the AAPD. He is a proud father of 3 beautiful girls, a San Diego native, loves soccer and is passionate about pediatric oral health. His mission is battling the number 1 disease that he has seen take over our beloved children. #AskDrJ provides answers and solutions to parents questions & concerns regarding their children's oral health. Click here for a full list of articles from #AskDrJ 

Ready for a Visit?
TOP