As a parent, you’re probably always on the lookout for things that keep your child’s life healthy. Whether it’s their diet, activity level, or oral health, nothing goes unchecked. However, it is quite common for parents to ignore a growing child’s oral health needs.
The oral health of a growing child depends a lot on what they eat. As a parent, you try your best to stop them from consuming food that hurt their teeth. But have you ever thought about giving them nutrient-rich foods that are good for their teeth?
A growing child’s teeth have many needs, but one of the most important of them all is essential vitamins. If you don’t feed your kids with the right food that has the right essential vitamins, their oral health may be suffering and they could be heading towards gum disease and tooth decay.
To help you understand the nutritional needs of a child when it comes to healthy teeth, our team of dentists reveals the 5 crucial vitamins that must make their way to your child’s tummy for strong dental health.
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Table of Contents
Vitamin A – Best for Overall Oral Health
- One of the best vitamins for overall oral health is Vitamin A. The vitamin helps keep the saliva flowing in your child’s mouth which naturally cleans away all the teeth from bad bacteria, acids, and other food particles.
Additionally, Vitamin A also promotes healthy mucous in a child’s mouth and strengthens their overall immune system. Mucous is very important because it helps shield the gums and cheeks from harmful bacteria by forming a thin layer around them.
- Lack of Vitamin A can lead to infections and oral diseases.
Vitamin A can easily be replenished by feeding your child with eggs, carrots, fish, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin C – Best for Healthy Gums
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that plays a crucial role in healing the gums and fighting gum inflammation. The vitamin promotes collagen production which accelerates cell repair and the healing process.
- Good sources of Vitamin C include oranges, kiwi, and grapefruit.
Keep in mind if you feed your kids with too many citrus fruits, you are also exposing their teeth to acid since these fruits are very acidic.
- To ensure that your child’s oral health remains safe from acid, rinse their mouth well after eating.
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- When Should My Child First See A Dentist in Seattle
- What To Expect At Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Vitamin D – Best for Stronger Teeth
As a parent, you are probably aware of how calcium is important for stronger bones and teeth, but did you know the power of calcium is nothing without sufficient vitamin D in the body?
Think of Vitamin D as a communicator – it tells the stomach to absorb calcium and send it through the bloodstream to bones and teeth. With an adequate amount of Vitamin D and calcium, you can be sure that your child will have denser and stronger teeth.
Some great sources of Vitamin D include fish, eggs, and dairy products like fortified milk and cheese.
Is Your Child’s Diet Mouth-Healthy?
It can be overwhelming for any parent to feed their child with the right food. You have to carefully pick a balanced diet that contains fruits and vegetables, vitamins and minerals, and all other micro and macronutrients.
If you’re not sure what to feed your kid for healthy teeth, come pay us a visit at Icon Dental Center Seattle or Everett offices. We create a unique and welcoming environment that is comfortable for the entire family and ideal for your kids.
It is essential that you visit a dentist with your kids at least every 6 months, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The risks of ignoring a dental visit are great.