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9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127
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(314) 270-5817
Dental Health Nutrition
Dr. Kelly Jobe | Pediatric Dentist | St. Louis, MO
Dental health nutrition for kids
So you’ve taught your kid…
Brushing: Check!
Flossing: Check!
But you also want to make sure they’re getting great nutrition for their dental health. So, they just need to avoid sugary foods, right? Well yes, but there is definitely more to proper dental health nutrition for kids.
Eating healthy is essential to prevent tooth decay and other dental problems down the road. This is done by making sure your child is eating from all food groups, and not just avoiding sugar. Grazing can also increase cavity risk, so encourage eating only at predetermined times.
Why sugar and a kid's teeth aren’t friends
The reason that sugar is bad for teeth is because over time, sugar can combine with bacteria in the mouth to form a sticky substance called plaque. This plaque can build up over time, creating acids that tear through the enamel on our teeth, causing cavities.
If cavities are left untreated, they can lead to more serious problems down the road like pain, sensitivity and even infections. Then your child’s teeth might require fillings, crowns, pulp therapy (root canals) or extractions. What’s worse, cavities can then spread to other teeth!
Needless to say, simple habits like brushing, flushing and proper nutrition can prevent a lot of headaches in the future.
If your child eats sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods, we recommend brushing immediately after to prevent plaque buildup. And if you do serve them sugary treats, include them with meals, not as standalone snacks.
What should kids eat for healthy teeth?
There are many low-sugar, low-carb foods your child can eat for healthy teeth, including:
- High-water fruits and vegetables – The water in fruits & veggies like pears, melons, celery and cucumbers help wash away food particles from the teeth
- Cheese – Cheese triggers saliva which also helps wash away food particles from the teeth
- Calcium-rich foods – The calcium in foods like broccoli, milk and yogurt help build strong teeth
- High-fiber foods – The crunch of high-fiber foods like apples, celery and carrots can scrub away plaque from teeth
- Water with fluoride – Drinking water usually has fluoride in it, which is proven to prevent tooth decay
- High vitamin D foods – The vitamin D in foods like eggs and mushrooms help the body absorb calcium, which strengthens teeth
- Protein – Foods high in protein like meat, eggs, dairy and beans help build strong enamel
What foods are bad for kids' teeth?
These foods should be avoided for kids’ teeth:
- Sticky, chewy foods – Like raisins, jelly beans, honey and syrup
- Sugary foods – Like cookies, cake and candy
- Sugary drinks – Like soda, juices and milk
- Citrus fruits – The acid in citrus fruits like grapefruit and lemon can wear down enamel
- Processed carbohydrates – The carbohydrates in processed starches like chips, bread and pasta turn into sugar, which causes cavities
Other tips for dental health nutrition
- Limit snacking – The more your child snacks, the more fuel they’re giving to cavity-causing plaque bacteria
- Have your child brush immediately after eating sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods – This also prevents plaque from building up
- If serving sugary treats, serve them with meals – Not as standalone snacks
- Buy sugar-free or unsweetened food
- Give your baby a bottle of water when putting them to bed – The sugars in milk, formula or juice will cause plaque buildup while they are sleeping
- Use a fluoride toothpaste – Fluoride is proven to rebuild teeth and prevent tooth decay
- Visit the dentist regularly – The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children get a checkup every 6 months
- Encourage proper chewing – Chewing their food longer releases more saliva, which breaks down and washes away food particles from the teeth, in addition to providing minerals that strengthen teeth
Questions for Dr. Jobe or the Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team?
Dr. Kelly Jobe and the team at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are committed to providing the best pediatric dental care in the greater St. Louis, MO area! Please contact us with any questions regarding your kid’s dental health, we are here to help!
FAQs
What your child eats plays a major role in the health of their teeth. Foods high in sugar and processed carbohydrates feed bacteria in the mouth, which produce acids that wear down tooth enamel and cause cavities. On the other hand, a balanced diet rich in calcium, fiber, protein, and vitamins supports strong teeth and healthy gums. At Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in St. Louis, Dr. Kelly Jobe helps families understand how everyday food choices directly impact their child’s long-term oral health.
Several foods actively support strong, healthy teeth in children. Calcium-rich options like milk, yogurt, and broccoli help build and maintain tooth structure. High-fiber fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery scrub away plaque as kids chew. Cheese stimulates saliva production, which naturally rinses food particles from the teeth. Foods with high water content, like pears, melons, and cucumbers, also help keep the mouth clean between meals.
When sugar combines with bacteria already present in the mouth, it forms plaque, a sticky film that clings to tooth surfaces. Over time, that plaque produces acids that eat through tooth enamel, leading to cavities. If cavities go untreated, they can cause pain, sensitivity, and infection, and may require fillings, crowns, pulp therapy, or even extractions. Keeping sugary foods to a minimum and brushing right after consuming them is one of the most effective ways to protect your child’s smile.
Yes. Several foods that may seem harmless can still be damaging to children’s teeth. Sticky, chewy foods like raisins, honey, and jelly beans cling to enamel and are difficult to rinse away. Processed carbohydrates such as chips, bread, and crackers break down into sugars that fuel cavity-causing bacteria. Citrus fruits and juices, while nutritious in other ways, contain acids that can erode enamel with frequent exposure. Sugary drinks, including juice and flavored milk, are also a common source of tooth decay in young children.
Every time a child eats, bacteria in the mouth produce acids that attack the teeth. The more frequently a child snacks throughout the day, the longer those acids are in contact with tooth enamel. Encouraging your child to eat at set mealtimes rather than grazing continuously gives the mouth time to recover between exposures. When sugary treats are served, it is better to include them with a meal rather than as a standalone snack, since saliva production during meals helps neutralize acids more effectively.
Water is the best drink for children’s dental health, especially fluoridated tap water, which has been shown to help prevent tooth decay. Milk is also a good option because of its calcium content, though it should not be given in a bottle at bedtime since the sugars in milk can pool around the teeth overnight and cause decay. Sugary drinks like soda, juice, and sports drinks should be limited as much as possible. When children do drink acidic or sugary beverages, using a straw and rinsing with water afterward can help reduce the impact on their teeth.
Beyond choosing the right foods, a few simple habits can make a real difference. Encourage your child to chew food thoroughly, since longer chewing releases more saliva, which helps wash away particles and deliver minerals that strengthen teeth. Use a fluoride toothpaste and have your child brush immediately after eating sugary or starchy foods. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling a dental checkup every six months so any early signs of decay can be caught and addressed before they become bigger problems.
If you have questions about which foods are safe for your child’s teeth, notice signs of tooth sensitivity or discoloration, or simply want guidance on building better nutritional habits for your child’s oral health, Dr. Kelly Jobe and the team at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are here to help. We welcome patients from across the St. Louis area and are happy to discuss dietary recommendations alongside your child’s regular care. Call us at (314) 270-5817 or visit us at 9735 Landmark Parkway Dr., Suite 16, St. Louis, MO 63127 to schedule an appointment.
Have more questions about your child’s dental health? Contact St. Louis, MO’s award-winning Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Kelly Jobe!
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Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127 - (314) 270-5817
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