You want your kids to grow up with perfect teeth, regularly checking they’re brushing them properly as well as keeping up to date with their dentist check-ups. But did you know you also need to watch what you’re putting in their lunch box before packing them off to school – and what you thought was healthy night not really be the case? In fact, a study revealed that when it came to packed lunches only 1.6% met the right standards, with vegetables included in just 17%, while 52% contained excessively sweet snacks. The last think any parent ever wants is for their child to suffer from tooth decay, sensitivity and enamel erosion, so read on for Longevita Dental dentist Dr Gizem Seymenoglu on what you shouldn’t be including.
White bread
“White bread quickly converts into sugars, lowering the pH level in the mouth. This means teeth enamel begins to soften, leaving them exposed. This then becomes an easy target for bacteria, which can attack the tooth surface and accelerate decay.”
Sugary snacks
“These cling tightly to enamel and don’t wash away easily with saliva. If a child eats biscuits or sweets five times across the school day, the teeth are hit with bacteria acid attack again and again, with no time for recovery.”
Yoghurts
“Parents often think yogurt pots are protective, but their high sugar makes them just as damaging as desserts. Many fruit-flavoured yogurts contain as much sugar as a chocolate bar, cancelling out their calcium benefits.
Oranges
“In the UK, children are often given orange slices, but many just suck the juice alone which weakens teeth enamel. It’s fine to pack them in a lunch box, but make sure your child eats them properly.”
Fizzy drinks
“Cola, lemonade and flavoured water are harmful because they combine sugar and acidity, which erodes enamel and sustains bacteria. Their frequent consumption can lead to sensitivity and an aged appearance.”
WHAT TO EAT INSTEAD
Dr Gizem recommends:
- Crunchy vegetables such as cucumber, carrot sticks or peppers to stimulate saliva and reduce acid. You can also pair fruit with vegetables, such as grapes with cucumber slices, to balance sugar exposure
- Replace dried fruit with fresh produce: think apples wedges instead of raisins or dried mango
- Swap sugary fruit yogurts for plain, adding three or four fresh strawberry slices for flavour
- Include biscuits or cereal bars with their main lunch rather than as a snack, so their teeth face fewer acid attacks during the day
- For drinks, pack plain water over fizzy or flavoured, as it’s the safest daily drink for protecting teeth
A healthy balance
Don’t feel you have to restrict every food at all times, as you don’t want your child to feel they are constantly missing out on certain types of foods they enjoy. “Even one change can have a lasting impact on a child’s dental health,” says Dr Gozem. “Protecting smiles really does start with the lunchbox.”
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