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4 Surprising Snacks You’ll Want to Avoid Packing in Your Child’s Lunch

August 4, 2019

Filed under: Uncategorized — purpleplumdentistry @ 2:48 pm

children eating lunch at schoolSchool is back in session, meaning it’s time to start changing up your grocery list to include easy-to-pack snacks for your little one’s lunchbox. Certain foods that are marketed as “healthy” for your child can actually have terrible impacts on their oral health and increase their risk of developing cavities. This can cause them to miss school for an emergency visit with their children’s dentist. To avoid any additional stress during the beginning of the school year, here are four surprising snacks you’ll want to scratch off your grocery list for the sake of your child’s oral health.  

Deliciously Deceiving Granola

Like most people, you probably consider granola a healthy substitute for sugary cereal or as a great addition to yogurt and fruit. While there’s no argument about how delicious it is, granola is also packed full of sugar and fat, which can impact your little one’s oral and overall health. Not to mention, the high density of calories can keep your child from feeling full and cause them to overeat. Before you buy the granola with the healthiest-looking label, check the nutritional facts on the back. Choose the one with the least amount of sugar and highest fiber content so it does less damage to their pearly whites.

Sports Drinks Turn Your Child’s Mouth Into Cavity-Central

Sports drinks and nutritional flavored waters are often marketed as the best way to stay hydrated, especially if you’re not a fan of plain water. These beverages are often full of sugar and citric acid, which can cause erosion enamel and increase the risk of cavity development. Instead, try to pack a thermos of plain ice water for your child to sip on throughout their day. This can rinse away lingering plaque and food particles from their mouth and is the healthiest drink for them.

Steer Clear of Unhealthy Types of Trail Mix

Trail mix often contains unhealthy ingredients like chocolate, dried fruits, and other sweets that can cling to teeth and deposit sugars and carbohydrates that cause bacteria buildup. As a better substitute, try packing your little one protein-packed almonds that are better for their oral and overall health.

Sticky, Sugary Dried Fruits

In the dental world, sticky and sweet foods are a dangerous combination. They can cling to teeth and allow sugar to sit on them throughout the entire day, creating the perfect environment for cavities to form. Dried fruits may seem like a healthy alternative, but often they contain significantly higher amounts of sugar than natural fruit. Instead of packing dried sweets, get the ones that are less likely to stick to your little one’s pearly whites and have less sugar.

By avoiding packing these snacks, you can fortify your child’s oral health and help them learn how to make nutritious choices. If you’re concerned about your child’s diet and how it could be affecting their small, fragile mouth, be sure to take them to your family dentist for a checkup. They can recommend making any changes and keep their mouth in tip-top shape.

About the Author

Dr. Anita Kianimanesh is the owner and founder of her dental practice, Purple Plum Dentistry. She is passionate about helping her patients achieve the best oral health possible by giving them the highest quality of treatment and care. She has completed additional advanced training in comprehensive dentistry through prestigious Spear to sharpen her skill and equip her practice with the latest and greatest techniques dentistry has to offer. For questions or to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning for your family, visit Purple Plum Dentistry’s website or call 703-998-4244.

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