Diet plays a far more vital role in dental care than many people realize. The nutrition your family gets from healthy foods is an essential part of attaining and maintaining their dental health. In fact, growing children need to consume a balanced diet that has teeth-healthy calcium, vitamin C, and phosphorus.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends that anyone over the age of three get no more than 12.5 teaspoons or 50 grams of sugar each day. Getting kids to eat less sugar is a matter of motivating them to make smarter choices and providing yummy foods that are healthy. Consider offering these scrumptious, healthy spring treats instead of chocolate bunnies and other candies.

CREATE A FUN FRUIT BUNNY

If your children are drawn to springtime candy because of the fun shapes and characters, emulate the food styling to entice them to eat healthier fare. For example, instead of putting a chocolate bunny in an Easter basket, make a simple fruit bunny for breakfast.

Start with an apple as the head and face of the bunny. Dig two small holes in the top side of an apple, then put carrots in those holes as the bunny ears. You can use celery instead of carrots for the ears, and both options can easily be removed and eaten. Next, you may try raisins as the eyes and nose. Get creative and use your imagination to create fun fruit shapes.

ADD BALANCE TO INDULGENCES

All children want to feel that they are getting to eat something special. When you want to offer candy as a treat for your kids, try to balance the indulgence. For example, choosing carob-covered peanuts is a healthier option than hard candies. Carob peanuts may look, taste, and feel like eating candy to your kids, but they offer significantly more nutrition than many candies.

When children get used to eating healthier diets with less sugar, offering even a little bit of sugar may go a long way. So, if you want to give kids a treat, offer smaller portions of sugary foods. When you balance the right nutrition with fun foods so your kids don’t feel deprived of all the unhealthy snacks their peers might be eating, that helps keep everyone in the family happy.

SERVE WATER WITH A SPLASH OF FLAVOR

If your kids like to drink fruity sweet drinks and soda, try to offer healthier alternatives whenever possible. According to the American Dental Association, fluoridated water is the best beverage for helping kids maintain optimal oral health. If your children aren’t wowed by the idea of drinking water, splash things up with a splash of natural flavoring.

Think a little outside the box when flavoring water, and your options are nearly limitless. Consider your kids’ favorite sweet drinks and how you can bring a bit of that to water. For example, if your kids like orange soda, squeeze a quarter of an orange into a gallon of water. That will add just a yummy touch of sweet flavor without overloading your kids with sugar.

OFFER TREATS RIGHT AFTER DINNER

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, frequent snacking is sometimes a factor in dental decay. The more frequently your kids snack, the more times their teeth are exposed to acids from the foods they eat. Instead of serving sweet treats as separate snacks, you may want to serve them directly after lunch or dinner.

Finally, take the lead and openly enjoy healthy treats in front of your kids. Talk about why you love a certain fruit or vegetable. You may be pleasantly surprised by how intrigued your little ones may be by the idea of eating celery after watching you savor it.

Discuss any questions you have about the role nutrition plays in your kids’ dental health with your dentist. Contact the Town Center Family Dental for your next appointment. Our friendly, caring team is happy to welcome all members of the family.