HOW IMPORTANT ARE HEALTHY SNACKS FOR MY CHILDS DENTAL HEALTH?
Munchy, crunchy, gooey and chewy can be your child’s dental enemy and best friend. For kids bouncing through the door after school, unhealthy snacking has created a national dental epidemic. Tooth decay is the number one, chronic childhood disease that affects more than 50 percent of children from 5 to 17 years of age, and unhealthy snacks contribute to tooth decay. It’s not so much the snack that causes a problem; it is when the snack is eaten. Sugary foods are less harmful to your child’s teeth when they are eaten after a regular meal and your child brushes with fluoridated toothpaste afterwards, and here’s why. Frequent snacking decreases saliva flow, and saliva helps protect teeth from bacteria. Numerous snack-attacks constantly bathe teeth in sugar. This is where gooey, chewy snacks create havoc because they stick to the teeth and remain in the mouth longer than other snacks. It is easy to serve snacks that provide kids with the munchy, crunchy sensation that is appealing and heal
