Eat This, Not That
School is back in session, which means we can’t always control what goes into our kids’ mouths! Those pesky vending machines and less-than-healthy school lunches can sideswipe all your hard work in teaching your kids proper eating habits, real quick!
I wanted to lend a few ideas that will help kids make a healthier choice when it comes to choosing foods that are not only healthy for their bodies, but for their dental health as well.
Just because It Looks Good Doesn’t Mean It Is Good for You!
Let’s get started!
Try a blueberry greek yogurt smoothie instead of ice cream or a milkshake:
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon honey to sweeten
Try homemade granola instead of sugary cereals:
- 2 cups raw, whole rolled oats (aka old-fashioned oats)
- ½ cup raw nuts, chopped
- ¼ cup raw seeds (sunflower or pumpkin seeds are great)
- ½ cup unsweetened dried fruit, chopped (optional)
- 2–3 tablespoons grade-B maple syrup or raw honey (or a combination of both)
- 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil or other healthy cooking oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
- 1 large pinch fine sea salt
Try replacing chips and other processed snacks with apples, celery, and carrots—apples and carrots scrub away plaque and freshen breath, and clery is full of water, which is good for oral health because it stimulates the flow of saliva. But try to stay away from acidic foods such as oranges, because those can cause enamel erosion if eaten in excess.
Cheese is low in sugar and acid and high in calcium. It also contains casein, a protein also found in milk that is useful for fortifying the tooth’s surface.
If You Eat Better, You’ll Feel Better
You are what you eat. It’s a phrase that has been used for decades, but it’s as true a statement as they come. When we make healthier choices, our bodies not only feel better but those healthier choices also protect our teeth and help us keep them throughout our entire adult lives.
One day, dentures may be the thing of the past!
~ Dr. Rhea Haugseth
Rhea M. Haugseth, DMD maintained a private practice in Marietta, GA from 1982- 2017. She attended the University of Louisville Dental School and completed her pediatric dental residency at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital / Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is proud to be a Fellow the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy – National Honorary Organizations for Dentists.
Dr. Haugseth is a Past President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SSPD), and the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry(GaPD). Dr. Haugseth has been a National Spokesperson for the AAPD since 1989 and has been frequently interviewed for radio, print, and national television.
Dr. Haugseth is the Founder (2013) and Director of the Atlanta Pediatric Dental Assistant School in Atlanta Georgia. She is also the Founder (2014) and Director of the Pediatric Dental Team Association. She is committed to pediatric dental team members and continues to develop ways to enhance their knowledge and skills both in and out of the dental office.