With your kids being back to school, for many young parents – like you – it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of pre-planning daily routines for your kids: Getting them up, getting them dressed and getting them out the door!
In the midst of all that chaos, it’s important to stay on top of teaching your children the best practices for maintaining a healthy set of teeth – even after they have walked (or scurried) away from the bathroom sink.
You’ve already taught your child the basics (brush, floss, rinse, repeat!) but sometimes, the key to healthy teeth can be packed inside the lunchboxes we’re sending off to school with them.
Here are some healthy back-to-school foods for your child’s dental hygiene, and how to make turn them into exciting snacks.
- High-Fibre Fruits
An apple a day keeps the plaque away. An apple’s tough, crunchy texture, makes it a great snack for breaking down potentially harmful plaque build-up. Make this a fun snack by dicing up some apples and making a refreshing fruit snack that will keep your child’s belly full. - Cheese and Yogurt
Dairy products are great sources for calcium, phosphates and vitamins that help protect and keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong. This snack really doesn’t require much effort when it comes to making it exciting. Let’s face it, what child doesn’t like cheese? - Nuts and Seeds
A lot of acids can remove tooth enamel which not only helps protect teeth, but keeps them looking bright and white. Fortunately, nuts and seeds are great tooth companions, due to their ability to replenish and renew the minerals to tooth enamel. A small bag of trail mix or mixed seeds can be a great way to introduce nuts and seeds as a lunch item! - Eggs
Protein, protein, protein. Eggs provide the teeth with crucial minerals to help build strong teeth. An egg sandwich or even an omelette can be a fun lunch item that ensures your child is getting the minerals they need for a healthy smile.
When you’re meal-prepping for your child’s back-to-school lunches, make informed, healthy food choices that will help maintain a healthy set of teeth, and don’t forget to get creative and have some fun with it.
We look forward to your child’s next dental visit!
