School Lunches for Healthy Teeth

School Lunches for Healthy Teeth

Packing a healthy lunch for your kids may sound easy, but did you know that some fruits, milk, cereals, bread and vegetables contain sugars and / or starches? A healthy and balanced diet is essential to maintaining good oral health. Foods containing carbohydrates and sugars come in contact with the germs and bacteria in our mouth that cause plaque.

Plague thrives on the starches and sugars that are found in a great deal of foods. When plaque combines with the sugars and starches, an acid is produced that attacks tooth enamel and eventually causes decay.

Helpful Tips:

1. For snacks, send fruits, vegetables or cheese in your child’s lunchbox.
2. The best fruit choices are those containing more water, such as: apples, grapes, pears, cantaloupes and other melons.
3. Any type of aged cheese is a good choice, such as: Swiss, Cheddar or Monterey Jack. You can also use cookie cutters to cut the cheese into fun shapes. Some studies have even suggested that aged cheese can actually help to prevent tooth decay.
4. Raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers and celery are excellent vegetable choices.
5. A small container of ranch dressing could mean the difference between your children eating vegetables or not.
6. Try some different healthy foods or low carb snacks that your children may like.
7. Send an Oral B Brush Up in your children's lunchbox. Since it is small and discreet, they just might use it.
8. It's OK to send a fun snack occasionally. I try to add a little extra on Fridays with a note that tells them how much I love them or a cute little handmade craft.

We can’t follow our children around everyday to make sure that they are eating healthy and brushing their teeth, but we can have a little peace of mind knowing that we are helping to promote good oral health by providing them with their nutritional needs while they are at school.

Bloch Dentistry Center specializes in a wide range of dental services including: general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants, root canals, periodontic treatments, and reconstructive dentistry.

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at http://www.BlochDentistry.com We want to see you smile!