Other issues of Nutrition Advisor

Brushing up on nutrition:
dental health for children

Good nutrition plays an important role in the development and maintenance of a healthy mouth. Good dental health should begin early in life, even before the first tooth appears! Children with a set of healthy teeth can more easily chew food and learn to talk more clearly.

How cavities start
Although factors like family history and the makeup of saliva play a part in the cavity-forming process, a balanced diet plays a big part in developing a healthy smile. The cavity process starts when bacteria in the mouth mix with carbohydrates (both sugars and starches) to form acids. These acids can attack the outer coating of teeth, causing tooth decay and cavities. This entire process can continue for 20 to 40 minutes after eating something starchy or sugary. Sticky foods, like raisins, other dried fruits and granola bars, cause the acids to stay in your mouth longer. The more often you eat or snack on carbohydrate-rich foods, the more chances you give acid to attack the teeth.

All carbohydrate-containing foods can feed bacteria in the mouth. While soda, candy, cookies and table sugar are obvious culprits, other carbohydrate-rich foods like fruit and juice, breads, pasta and even milk can mix with the bacteria to form destructive acids. In fact, babies and young children are at risk for developing tooth decay when their teeth and gums are exposed to formula, milk, breast milk, juice or other sweetened drinks for a long period of time.

Fighting cavities
The mineral fluoride helps teeth develop and prevents against tooth decay. Many places have adequate amounts of fluoride in their water supply, but if your area does not or you are unsure, ask you child’s doctor if a fluoride supplement is necessary. If it is prescribed, only use the recommended amount. Excess fluoride can cause spots to develop on teeth. Other key nutrients, like calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D are also important for strong teeth.

Nutrition tips for a healthy mouth


• Take your child to the dentist early. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends "First Visit by First Birthday." The American Dental Association recommends the first visit within six months of eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age.



• Make cleaning your baby’s teeth and gums part of the bathtub routine on a regular basis. In most cases, a soft infant toothbrush or even a clean, wet washcloth with water is all you need to start. It’s especially important to clean teeth after consuming high-carbohydrate foods. Once baby teeth appear, start cleaning them with a soft, child-sized toothbrush twice a day. In children up to 4 years of age, use a small, pea-sized dab of children's fluoride toothpaste.



• Do not put children to sleep with a bottle. Drinking juice from the bottle should also be discouraged. Encourage your children to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday.



• Promote a well-balanced diet and pay special attention to foods high in calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D, like cheese, yogurt, and milk. Some aged-cheeses, like sharp cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack and Swiss, may have a protective effect on teeth.



• Limit the number of between-meal snacks and choose them wisely. Good choices include fresh vegetables, fruits like apples, plain yogurt, cheese and milk



• Limit sticky snacks between meals, such as candy, raisins, fruit snacks, and granola bars. Saliva has a hard time washing away sticky food.



• Serve starch and sugar-containing foods with a meal instead of a snack. During a meal, the amount of saliva in the mouth increases, making it easier to wash food away from teeth.



• Have your child drink more water to help the body make enough saliva.



• Be a positive role model! Make sure your kids see you eating a well-balanced diet and practice good oral health.

The Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor is created by registered dietitians and dietetic interns who staff the Nutrition Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital. For information, contact the Nutrition InfoLine at (203) 688-2422.

For more information on this topic, see

Mouth Power, National Museum of Dentistry

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

American Dental Association

Last revised: April 5, 2006 (mv)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.