Healthy foods for teeth

High-sugar foods and frequent eating are clearly linked to tooth decay. Try substituting fresh fruit and vegetables for sweetened prepared foods.

Help children preserve their teeth by avoiding or limiting:

Here are some important facts about sugar and teeth:

Natural sugars (such as maple syrup and honey) are just as harmful to teeth as refined sugar.
Sticky sweets (such as caramel) are particularly harmful because they remain on the teeth longer than other sweets.
Eating a sweet all at once is better than eating one over a period of time (such as a lollipop) or eating sweets often (such as mints or hard candies throughout the day).
Sweet sticky fruits, such as raisins and dates, should be eaten with a meal.
Because teeth are attacked by the decay process each time food is put in the mouth, frequent eating or snacking continuously (grazing) can cause problems.
Tooth brushing or rinsing with water after eating reduces the time teeth are exposed to the decay process.
Babies shouldn’t be put to bed with a bottle. Prolonged feeding can result in serious tooth decay. (Putting babies to bed or in a lying-down position with a bottle also increases the risk of ear infection and choking.)
Milk, formula, sweetened liquids, or fruit juices all contain sugars.
Whenever possible, give children water to drink instead of fruit juices or sweetened liquids.
Rewarding good behavior with candy or other sweets teaches children to reward themselves with sugary foods.