How can a childs diet affect oral health?
A. Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. It is important to establish a healthy feeding pattern when your baby is born. When teething starts, proper feeding habits along with good oral hygiene will stop dental cavities from forming. Infants that are breast-fed receive the best form of nutrition. Human breast milk is not a cause of cavities on its own. (reference 17) However, problems can occur when carbohydrates are introduced to your child’s diet while they are still nursing. Baby formula, carbohydrates and sugars can cause cavities when at-will feeding occurs continuously during the day or at night. Salivary flow, which helps wash away these sugars is very low during the night. This means sugars remain on the tooth surfaces for longer times allowing the bacteria to form harmful acids. If your toddler has not yet given up the bottle, be sure that it contains only water at naps a
