Healthy Baby Beans

I am sure you are aware of foods that have a negative impact on our childrens’ oral hygiene (sugary snacks, carbonated beverages, sticky dried fruits and sleeping with a bottle).  Have you ever considered foods that have a postive impact on teeth heatlth?

As a mother, I have been diligent about my childrens’ oral hygiene.  I plan school lunches and healthy night time snacks with oral health in my mind!

Here are my top 10 tips for a healthy mouth:

1. Cheese!  A great snack full of calcium and protein with a added benefit as an oral hygiene helper!  Cheese (aged cheeses such as Cheddar and Swiss) initiates the flow of saliva.  Saliva will help wash your child’s mouth of food particles!  It flushes away germs and bacteria. 
2. Unsweetened yogurt will help balance the pH in your child’s mouth.  If the pH becomes low (below 5.5), the acidic environment will cause demineralization of the teeth causing tooth decay.  Yogurt will provide a pH balance and the nutrients to build strong teeth! 
3. Apples protect the gums and teeth from decaying because they are high in fiber, vitamin C and boron.  They also have a nice crunch to them which may help clean teeth.  
4. Beans (pinto, chickpeas, black beans, navy beans, etc) are high in calcium, protein, fiber and other mineral that are very useful for healthy oral hygiene, strong teeth and healthy gums.
5. Raw vegetables will also mechanically produce saliva.  So, don’t forget to pack your baby carrots for your child’s lunch when teeth cleaning is often neglected.  Baby carrots will help wash food particles away where bacteria would normally get trapped.
6. Water is essential for over all health because it transports nutrients throughout the body!  It will help transport calcium and other nutrients to the teeth and gums to maintain good health and strength.
7. Green tea is considered very healthy for the teeth and gums because it contains flavonoids that protect gums and teeth from decay and infection.  I let my child drink warm decaffeinated green tea and she loves it.
8. Nuts are considered to be rich in calcium and other essential minerals which aid in a healthy mouth.  They are also crunchy which can mechanically help clean your teeth when a tooth brush is not around.
9. Seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower and poppy seeds) are all very rich in calcium, vitamins and minerals. 
10. Sunlight can help your body produce vitamin D which adds in the absorption of calcium!

If you liked this post, please just click on the Picket Fence square below for a vote but make sure you come back and check out our other great posts-  Thanks a Bunch!