Let me guess-your child either just finished a snack, is currently eating a snack or will be asking for a snack shortly.
Snacks are great! They offer bite size food for our little humans and are usually quick and easy to grab. But what if these sacks are actually harming your child’s teeth? Keep reading to find 5 snack swaps you can make for healthier teeth.
The bacteria in our mouth feed on sugar and then create an acid that breaks down our teeth. You can read more about what your dentist isn’t telling you about cavities HERE.
Cheese Crackers → String Cheese
Cheese crackers are a childhood favorite of mine, and honestly, I can eat a whole box of Cheez-its right now! I know how they stick to and between my teeth. Crackers are carbs which are sugar so all the leftover crackers in your child’s mouth are also feeding bacteria.
Swap cheese crackers for cheese sticks or cubes. Plain cheese slides off the teeth easier and contains a protein called casein that helps strengthen the outside surface of the tooth.
Ice Cream → Plain Yogurt
Ice cream is my go-to on a hot summer day, but it is also loaded with sugar that the bacteria in my mouth love too. Plain yogurt (Some flavored yogurts are packed with hidden sugars!) is a great alternative because its lower in sugar, and you can dress it up to suit your child’s taste buds.
Try adding fruit, honey or chocolate chips to plain yogurt, and you can control how much sugar your child is eating.
Gatorade, Propel, Powerade → ice cold water
This is a tough one. After a long day of playing outside or on the field, what more does your child want than an ice cold Gatorade! Gatorade and other sports drinks, even the ones marketed at low sugar, still contain more sugar than what is recommended for one day. Read more about sports drinks [here].
Cool Blue Gatorade (my personal favorite) has 21 grams of sugar in one 12oz bottle. The amount of sugar your child should consume in one whole day is 25 grams.
Swap energy drinks for some ice cold water to hydrate your child. Pair it with a banana for some electrolytes!
Fruit Snacks → Fruit
I still remember searching through the Scooby Doo gummies to find the blue Scooby. Fruit snacks are fun for children to eat, especially when they come in so many different shapes and sizes. When they stick to the teeth (I haven’t had a time when they didn’t stick!) they give the bacteria in your mouth plenty of sugar to feast on.
Try swapping fruit snacks for the real thing! Consider cutting fruit into smaller pieces and mixing different fruit together so your child can get the same experience they do while eating fruit snacks.
Jolly Ranchers, Starburst, Gummies → Plain Milk Chocolate
We are all about balance here, and who doesn’t like a good piece of candy? Candy is filled with sugar, but a candy that will slide right off the teeth will leave less sugar behind than a candy that sticks to and in between the teeth.
So you heard it from a dentist, a plain chocolate bar is better for your teeth.
There is no need to take away your child’s favorite snacks. Snacks like Goldfish, ice cream and sprinkles and Gatorade can all be consumed in moderation. Below is a quick checklist to find out if a snack is better for your child’s teeth.
Quick checklist!
Is it low in sugar? (Remember the amount your child should have in one day is 25 grams)
Is it a whole fruit or vegetable?
Will it slide right off my child’s teeth?
Will it not get stuck on my child’s teeth?
No matter what your child eats, it’s important to clean the teeth by brushing two times a day and flossing once a day.
As always, if you have any concerns about your child’s teeth. Visit your local pediatric dentist to learn more.
