As many as 25% five-year-olds in England have tooth decay that has appeared on at least 3 teeth. Unfortunately, this confirms the fact that there are still many parents who think that it is not necessary to look after milk teeth because 'after all, they are going to fall out anyway'. This is a big mistake that can cost your child a lot in the future. It is enough to take care of your little one's oral hygiene, visit the dentist regularly, plus you can introduce an anti-caries diet into the family menu.

 

How we eat has a big impact on our teeth - surely as an informed parent you are well aware of this. However, there is still a large group of parents who do not pay attention to what they put on their children's plates. It's not just a matter of avoiding sweets, but also of introducing nutritious products into the family menu.

This is particularly important for young children, as healthy milk teeth have a very strong influence on permanent teeth, and good habits developed in childhood will bear fruit in the future.

How do you look after milk teeth in children and why is it so important? - You can find out in our earlier article.

Anti caries diet for children

Chocolate, biscuits and jelly beans - most children's eyes "light up" at the sight of these products. It is not a discovery that sweets contain a very high proportion of sugars, which are a great breeding ground for bacteria. These in turn can very quickly lead to tooth decay.

In the case of children who still have milk teeth, this is particularly dangerous. These teeth are much less mineralised than permanent teeth, hence caries can very quickly lead to the complete decay of many teeth. Worse still, it develops much more quickly than in the case of permanent teeth, sometimes two months are enough for a tooth to have to be decayed. Shoulders in the deciduous teeth can lead to abnormal eruption of permanent teeth and, consequently, malocclusion.

Therefore, whatever your child's age, try to limit sweets, and if your little one has already eaten a piece of chocolate or a biscuit, it is best that they brush their teeth straight away.

Remember, snacking is the worst, because then your child's teeth are constantly exposed to sugars. That's why it's worth giving even a bigger piece of cake at a time rather than one sweet every hour.

Avoid sugary drinks

The best thing to do is to get your child into the habit of drinking water, rather than sugary drinks and juices, from an early age. Importantly, the latter, although a source of many vitamins, also contain a lot of sugars. To make matters worse, they very often cling to the child's teeth. Therefore, as with sweets, it is a good idea to brush the teeth after drinking a glass of juice.

In addition, many sugary fizzy drinks contain acids that damage enamel - weakened enamel is susceptible to bacteria and the development of tooth decay. If you are not in a position to eliminate sugary drinks, be sure to brush your child's teeth or at least rinse them with water.

Fruit versus caries diet for children

Fruit is an excellent source of vitamins, but bear in mind that some fruits in excess can damage your teeth, such as citrus. The acids they contain damage the enamel. Therefore, it is best to let your child rinse his mouth out with water after eating them.

Important! Remember not to brush your teeth immediately after eating fruit, because then you rub the acids into the enamel, further damaging it. It is best to wait about 30 minutes and then start brushing.

Anti caries diet for the toddler

If your child is still using a bottle remember not to leave him overnight with a full bottle unless it is water. Otherwise you are putting him at risk of developing bottle tooth decay, which transfers very quickly from between the teeth.

During sleep, saliva secretion is much lower, making spontaneous oral cleansing slower than during the day. This is an ideal environment for bacterial growth.

So what should be included in a child's anti-cancer diet

Try to provide as many calcium- and protein-rich foods as possible. And don't forget your daily portion of fruit and vegetables, so that your anti-caries diet does not lack not only vitamins and trace elements, but also valuable fibre and pectin to aid digestion. In addition, when eating raw vegetables and fruit, more saliva is secreted, which helps to clean the mouth.

What other products should be included in a child's caries diet read our article "9 products to help you keep your teeth healthy".

An anti-caries diet is not everything

You are well aware that the absence of sweets alone will not protect your child from tooth decay. Regular tooth brushing is essential. However, this is still not enough! Remember to visit the dentist at least once every six months.

IMPORTANT: The first visit should not take place when there is a toothache. This will only give your child a negative attitude towards the dentist and cause more problems in the future. You can read more about this in our article -  Fear of the dentist in a child - how to combat it?

When should you and your child first go to the dentist at such a time? As soon as the first tooth appears. This does not mean that the child's teeth do not need to be looked after beforehand. Even if the first teeth have not appeared, it is worth washing the gums with water. This removes food residues.

If your child has never been to the dentist before, it is best to call us and make an appointment for an adaptation visit. In the course of it, the toddler will have the opportunity to get to know the surgery, meet the staff and become accustomed to the new place. In addition, we have provided small gifts as a reward for the brave little patient.

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