We’re going to deviate from the norm a little bit with this week’s blog in honor of the students heading back to school soon! Because we’re an Annapolis family dentist, it only seems fitting to address back to school time. It’s always a busy time of year with everyone scrambling to make last minute doctor appointments and pick up all of the necessary school supplies – including supplies for school lunches. Many students opt to take lunches these days, since they’re usually healthier and include a great variety of food options. The important thing for parents to remember is to avoid packing lunches that could actually be worse for students than school food. The following guide will give you an idea of how to pack a well-balanced, mouth healthy lunch.
Mouth Healthy Lunch and Snack Ideas
- Balance is key – As with anything in life, moderation is important. If you do include sweets for your child’s snack, make sure that you’re not putting too much sweet stuff in their actual lunch. You should also make sure that they have a balanced lunch, covering as many of the essential food group as possible.
- Follow the 50/50 rules – Lunch (and all meals for that matter) should be 50% vegetables and 50% everything else. Including lots of veggies in your child’s lunch is good for their teeth and will help them keep their energy up for the rest of the day. You can also include fruits, but be sure to include fruits that are low in sugar to prevent tooth decay.
- Grains – Carbohydrates are one of the main culprits of tooth decay because they eventually break down into sugars. When you give your children grains, try to stick to whole grain foods that aren’t processed or broken down. Oatmeal is a great one to choose for breakfasts and even snacks, because it contains protein and is extremely healthy.
- Snacking – It’s hard to get from lunch to dinner without snacking, especially when some schools do lunches before noon. Try giving your student low fat cheese, nuts, or veggies as a midday snack. Those types of snacks will fill them up and help prevent tooth decay. If your child’s school allows gum, you should also encourage them to chew gum with xylitol after eating or using the restroom to brush their teeth.
Back to School Dental Checkup
As an Annapolis family dentist, the health of your student’s mouth and teeth are important to us. The tips above will help you pack the best mouth healthy snacks for your kids this year. We’d also like to encourage you to put a dental cleaning on the list of things to do for back to school this year. It’s important to start the school year out healthy and happy! To schedule your appointment, please contact Annapolis Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! We look forward to getting to know your family and improving your oral health care!
Source: ADA