Are All Fruits Healthy For My Child’s Teeth?

Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces cares about your child’s oral health. As parents ourselves, we understand how important it is to give our kids foods that will help them grow up healthy and strong. That includes foods that are great for their teeth, too! If you’re unsure about fruit, because of its sugar contents and acidity, here are some things to consider!

Fruit & Your Child’s Oral Health

Many fruits are chock-full of nutritious vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals offering many health benefits for those who consume them. For instance, many fibrous fruits, such as apples and oranges, help clean teeth and boost salivation. Berries, such as cranberries and raspberries, can help reduce plaque buildup! However, fruits also contain natural sugar and acids. Even natural sugars can linger on teeth and erode enamel over time. While fruits offer great nutritional benefits that can boost tooth health, good oral hygiene is still very important.

Choosing Fruit For Your Child

We recommend picking fruits for your little one that have the lowest sugar and acidity levels. This will help minimize any negative impact on your child’s teeth. Some tooth-healthy fruits include:

• Apples
• Berries
• Oranges
• Peaches

After your child eats a piece of fruit, we recommend they rinse their mouth with water and brush their teeth. This will help keep their teeth in good health while still enjoying a body-healthy snack.

The Type of Fruit to Avoid Altogether

Fresh fruits are much better for your child than dried fruits. Dried fruits are one of the worst snacks for your child’s teeth and your own! Dried fruits have a higher sugar concentration and are more sticky and tacky than their fresh counterparts. Because of the sticky nature of dried fruits, they stay on the teeth longer and are more likely to cause plaque buildup.

Pediatric Dentist in Pleasanton

Have questions about your child’s diet and how it affects their oral health? We’d be happy to help! At Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry and Braces, our knowledgeable team is more than willing to help you navigate which foods are best for your child. We’d also love to be your go-to dental home, so please don’t hesitate to contact our office to book an appointment!

Categorised in: Healthy Diet, Oral Health

This post was written by Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces