Children usually get attracted to sticky and unhealthy food items such as chocolates, candies, soft drinks, etc. Apart from causing harm to their teeth, these edibles affect their teeth as well. While you can keep a check on their eating habits, it would not be entirely possible to keep them miles away from these edibles.
In fact, a little indulgence once in a while is fine. Whether or not you let your child have these edibles, it is important to provide them with the right kind of nutrition that would not only take care of their health but would also help them develop healthy and strong teeth.
Here are the top vitamins and minerals your child needs for healthy teeth:
1. Fiber
Fiber is not the name of a vitamin but any kind of food item which has fiber content and also a substantial portion of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin E in it. According to the experienced doctors at a dental clinic in San Jose, you need around 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calorie-count.
Small children need as much fiber as adults. Fiber is usually found in oatmeal, broccoli, kidney beans and avocados. Fiber is very good for the digestive system as they help in bowel movements and protect you from common digestion-based problems like constipation.
These days, you also get powdered fiber which you need to mix with water and drink. If you think you have not been able to include the kind of diet that has rich fiber content, this is something you could try as an alternative.
2. Calcium
The first word which comes to most people’s mind when one thinks about developing strong bones and teeth is calcium. It is important for children to build strong and healthy bones and teeth right from a very young age as that would help them in sustaining them in their older years.
Not just the bones and teeth, our heart muscles, too, need a good dose of calcium to function properly and to stay healthy. If your child does not get the right amount of calcium he/she might suffer from height issues and low bone mass which might result in osteoporosis at a later stage in their lives.
3. Vitamin D
Just like calcium, Vitamin D plays a very important role in building strong bones and teeth. According to doctors, every child must get a minimum of 400 IU of vitamin D every day. California Shine Dental recommends food items like egg yolk, salmon fish, cereals and fortified milk. Those who are vegetarians might suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D as it is found mostly in non-vegetarian dishes. Vitamin D also has a key role to play in maintaining and regulating the metabolism in one’s body.
4. Magnesium
Apart from keeping bones and teeth strong and healthy, magnesium plays an important role in keeping blood pressure normal and lends steadiness to the heartbeat or the rhythm of the heart.
Magnesium is found in leafy vegetables like spinach, cereals, kidney beans, avocados, tofu, almonds, pumpkin seeds and bananas. Deficiency of magnesium in the body leads to cramps and pain in the muscle, fatigue, osteoporosis, asthma, high blood pressure and several other diseases. Lack of magnesium in your diet and body could result in body cramps, muscle spasms and anxiety.
5. Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps in the production of saliva in your mouth which cleans the teeth off acids and other harmful substances which have a damaging effect on your teeth. That also results in preventing your mouth from drying up.
Your diet must include items like egg yolk and fish which contain a high amount of vitamin A. If you are a vegan and follow a strict vegetarian diet, you can have spinach, apricots, sweet potatoes, carrots, dry fruits and mango.
An individual needs to be provided with the right kind of food which has a good amount of vitamin and mineral content right from his or her childhood.
As a parent, apart from providing them with healthy food you must also make them aware of the right kind of food that will ensure their overall growth and development. Taking the right amount of nutrition and other care for ensuring healthy and strong teeth is equally important.
