You’ve bought the crayons, pencils and notebooks. New jeans and tennis shoes? Check. Met with the teacher? Check. Back to school season brings with it mile-long supply lists and a bevy of paperwork, tasks and chores, right? The last thing busy parents want to think about is packing a healthy lunch for their little ones and themselves.
And yet, we all know how important healthy meals are to healthy children – and healthy teeth! The most common chronic childhood disease is tooth decay and 51 million school hours are lost annually due to dental-related illnesses, so we need to consider what we’re feeding our kids.
We are here to help! At Dr. Robert Mitchell’s Dallas office, we love exploring all of the ways we can help make life easier, while thinking about how to help you have YOUR best smile.
A balanced diet is a critical element of dental health no matter what your age so consider your family’s teeth when packing the brown bags this fall and include the following smile-friendly items:
- Sandwiches made with whole grain bread and packed with protein-rich foods like chicken or turkey to help teeth build enamel
- Produce like celery, carrots and apples, which act like a toothbrush by massaging gums and helping to eliminate bad bacteria
- Calcium-rich foods like low-fat milk, yogurt and string cheese, which keep teeth and the jaw bone strong and protected against tooth decay
- Red peppers and oranges packed with Vitamin C to help strengthen blood vessels and connective tissue in the gums
- Hard-boiled eggs and tuna fish to aid in the absorption of calcium and protein
Of course, brushing after each meal is recommended but isn’t always possible at school or work. In lieu of brushing, be sure you AND your child rinse your mouth with water for a minute after eating to help loosen any food that may be stuck in the teeth.
Do you have questions about teeth? Give Dr. Robert Mitchell a call or schedule an appointment at his Dallas office.
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