Diet and Nutrition

What type of diet should my child follow?

A healthy diet is a balanced diet consisting of: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat, fish and eggs.

What type of foods cause cavities?

A diet high in certain carbohydrates, such as sugar and starches, provide food for bacteria to thrive. These harmful bacteria then attach the tooth surface resulting in cavities. Foods with starch include breads, crackers, pasta, pretzels, etc. In addition, candies and sweets are not the only things that contain sugar. Fruits, some vegetables, and most milk products contain one or more types of sugar and all sugars can promote tooth decay. Sticky foods (such as dried fruits, raisins, or taffy) are not easily washed away from teeth by water or saliva.

Does my child need to give up all sugars?

No. What is important is a balanced diet and eating in moderation. A food with sugar or starch is safer for teeth when eating during a meal, opposed to frequent snacking. Sticky sugars like raisins or taffy are not easily washed away with water and have the potential to cause more cavities then sugars that are easily washed away. Most importantly, try and minimize the number of snacks the child eats and drink more water. This will allow for saliva and water to wash away the sugars after meals.