Healthy Food & Drink Choices

What you offer your child to eat and drink can have a big impact on their teeth. Some items are more likely to cause tooth decay than others, so it is important that your child has a healthy, tooth friendly diet. See the sections below to find food and drink reccomendations.

How Food and Drink Choices Affect Teeth

Limiting sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes can help keep your child's teeth healthy. When children snack or sip on sugary items throughout the day, sugar stays on their teeth longer, which can lead to tooth decay. When grocery shopping, take a look at nutrition labels and ingredient lists to help spot added sugars and make healthier choices for your family. 

Drinks

Tooth Friendly Drinks Include:

• Milk
• Water (especially fluoridated)
• Unsweetened decaffeinated tea

Drinks to Limit or Avoid Include:

• Juices (no more than 4-6 ounces of 100% fruit juice at mealtimes only)
• Soda
• Sports drinks like Gatorade
• Lemonade

Snack Foods

Foods that Are Tooth Friendly Include:

• Firm and crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, celery and carrots
• Cheese
• Chicken, turkey and other meats
• Nuts

Foods to Limit or Avoid Include:

• Hard or sticky candies
• Cookies
• Raisins and other dried fruits
• Potato chips and crackers
• Pretzels
• Cereals
• Granola bars
• Flavored yogurts

Base on: