Nutrition

Eating a healthy diet is more than just getting your daily requirement of fruits and vegetables. A balanced diet supplies nutrients to grow strong teeth and bones and allows proper tooth development and healthy gums. Every healthy diet should include a mix of the following major food groups:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Grains
• Meats and beans
• Milk or dairy

While they taste good, a diet high in sugars and starches can lead to tooth decay and ultimately tooth loss. Limit foods such as candy, sodas, chips, chewy fruit snacks and many processed foods to keep your child's teeth healthy and strong. It is not necessary to give up all starches and sugars but, it's important to make wise choices. Sticky foods such as dried fruit or fruit snacks are not easily washed away by saliva and liquids, making them more likely to cause cavities.

So, how can you limit cavities?

It is not possible to completely prevent geting cavities, but there are things you can do to limit your child getting one:

• Save foods with sugars or starch for mealtimes.
• Chew sugar-free gum for a snack
• Drink sugar-free sodas
• Never nurse a child to sleep or put to bed with bottle of milk, formula or juice

Finally, make sure there is fluoride in water supply. If you do not have flouride in your water, Dr. Pacella may recommend a fluoride supplement.