To snack or not to snack. We drilled local pediatric dentists Dr. Jones of Small Bites Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Cheek of Leap Kids Dental on how to support your kids’ dental health with nutrition. 

Snacks to Avoid

When you’re stocking your pantry and fridge with snacks, here are some items to put in the “rarely” category. 

• Sticky, Chewy Food and Candy: These foods can, you guessed it, stick to your teeth and can cause cavities. 

• Processed Foods: These foods are often temptingly grab-and-go, but they don’t support your teeth or your health like whole foods do. 

• Starches: Foods like chips, bread and pasta break down into simple sugars, stick to the teeth and can start causing tooth decay. 

But don’t overthink it. “As long as you are regularly brushing and avoiding too many sugary, sticky foods (especially not allowing that residue to stay on teeth overnight) then don’t stress too much,” Dr. Jones adds.

The Dos and Don'ts of Sugary Drinks 

Don’t forget to consider drinks when working toward healthy nutrition. “Water is essential for overall health, so this should always be our go-to beverage,” Dr. Jones says. “For small children, parents should avoid sodas, sweet teas and juices in excess.” The sugar content in these drinks is enough to make it more of a sometimes food than a consistent element of your family’s diet. 

• Do serve juice, sodas and sweet teas with meals, not in between.

• Don’t exceed American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for juice. Serve no more than:

• 4 ounces of juice a day for 1-3 year olds.

• 4-6 ounces of juice for 4-6 year olds.

• Don’t serve juice, sweet tea, soda or milk at night. “Salivary flow decreases at nighttime, all the sugar and food will just sit on the teeth and cause demineralization,” Dr. Cheek says.  

According to Dr. Jones, “Moderation is king, and brushing before bed is essential.”