Category: Food

Halloween Candy: A trick or treat?

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Children’s favorite holiday is just around the corner, and it’s not surprising why! Candy, candy candy! Don’t let this holiday stress you out.  Here are a few tips on how to keep their teeth healthy and cavity free during Halloween this year.

Pick your favorites

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After your night of fun collecting candy, sort through the bag with your child and let them choose 5 of their favorite items to keep and find your local food bank to donate the rest. Most cities offer these donations to great causes like for our troops abroad.

Chocolate that’s good for you

The best type of sweet treat to keep around is chocolate. Hard to believe, we know, but here’s why: time is of the essence when it comes to teeth and sugar.  Chewy treats and hard candy are particularly damaging because they spend a prolonged amount of time stuck to teeth.  These candies are also more difficult for teeth to chew, which is not good for their enamel. Sweets like chocolate that quickly dissolve in the mouth and can be eaten easily lessen the amount of time sugar stays in contact with teeth. But remember, too much of any thing isn’t good, so try and limit this too.

Time it right

Allow your children to eat their favorite candies right after a meal instead of a random time during the day.  Right after eating, saliva production is at its peak and can help cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth.  Saliva also helps rinse away food that can stick to your teeth and cause cavities.

Let water be your friend!

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After your children munch on a few of their goodies, give them lots of water. It’s the second best thing you can do for their teeth if they don’t have time to brush.  Water helps cleanse their teeth and prevents sugar from staying on their teeth, which can lead to cavities.

We hope that parents find these tips helpful.  Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!  Visit us at www.zpdentistry.com or call us at (832) 321 7151

What are healthy snacks for kids teeth?

Healthy snacks for kids

“What are some healthy snacks my kids can eat?”  We get this question all the time at Z Pediatric Dentistry.  Parents can feel overwhelmed.

Summer

Summer is just around the corner and that means kids are home! Here are some tips to keep their mouths and your homes healthy no matter how hot it gets outside! Don’t worry parents, no need to get extra fancy here, just remember a few key items.

Keep snack time short

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Snack time, also known as a child’s favorite time of day, is an important part of their routine.  Keep snack time pretty short, about 15-20 min.  Don’t leave a plate of snacks out for kids to munch on all afternoon because the longer food sits on teeth, the more likely they are to get cavities.

Keep snacks healthy

healthy snacks

Anything with low amounts of sugar is your best bet for teeth to be strong and healthy.  Fruits, vegetables and protein like chicken or turkey are great options.  One of my favorite and easy snacks to make is an apple with almond butter, which is lower in fat but just as creamy and tasty.  You can try pita bread with hummus or even plain yogurt with fresh fruit (see list below for other suggestions and recipes).

Beware of hidden sugars!

coke vs water

That sugar can really sneak up on you in foods you didn’t realize have large amounts in it.  The biggest jokesters are fruit juices.  While healthy and good in theory, it is much better to let your child eat the fruit rather than drink a glass of its juice.  Most juices have the same amount of sugar as a coca-cola, so skip flavored bevs and stick with water! (see below for other snacks you should avoid).
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  • Chicken kabobs with peanut sauce 
  • Orange cranberry muffins
  • Almond and Kale smoothie: (I make this every day in the summer and love it!)
    • 1 cup chopped kale (discard thick rib in middle of leaf)
    • 1 cup almond milk
    • 1 tbsp almond butter (more if you like nutty flavor)
    • 1 pitted date
    • 1 tbsp coconut oil
    • ½ banana frozen (or room temp banana and add ice).
    • agave nectar to taste for sweetness*blend and enjoy

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  • Gold fish crackers
  • White bread
  • Gummy fruit snacks
  • Pre-made fruit yoghurt
  • Ketchup
  • Granola bars

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call our office at 832.321.7151 or visit our website !

What? Cough syrup can lead to cavities?

Flu Season

Flu Season is upon us and the sniffles and cough are miserable.  Even though that over-the-counter cough syrup seems easy, did you know that a spoonful of medicine can lead to tooth decay?

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Facts about most cough drops and syrups

Syrups have high amount of sugar

high fructose corn syrup

High fructose corn syrup and sucrose are in most children’s medicines to improve their taste, however the side effects of these ingredients are not good for teeth! This high amount of sugar in them can stick to teeth and lead to cavities much faster

Flavored Syrups can have high acidity levels

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Some cough syrups are flavored with citric acid, which is also bad for teeth.  Acids eat away at your tooth covering, the enamel, and increase the chance of getting a cavity.  Even some antihistamines have high acidity levels, so beware!

Syrups can contain alcohol

Alcohol

A few cough syrups contain alcohol as well, which can lead to dry mouth.  Your saliva is very important to keep your teeth clean and healthy.  Saliva helps wash away acids and sugars from your teeth, so taking medicine that lowers saliva will increase your chance to get tooth decay.

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What can I do?

Have no fear, you can still fight the flu and keep your teeth healthy! Here are a few tips in case you do get the flu this season

Avoid taking medicine before bed time

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Take liquid medication during meal times, not before bed. Saliva decreases at night, so taking syrups before bedtime will increase your chance of cavities.

Brush your teeth!

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Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after you take the medicine. This helps protect teeth from those sticky sugars.

Drink Water!

drink water

If you cannot brush, drink water! It’s easy and just as effective to remove sugar from your teeth.

Avoid liquid medicines

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Request a tablet or pill form instead of the liquid to keep your teeth safe and healthy!

We hope that parents find this article helpful.  Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!  Visit us at www.zpdentistry.com or call us at (832) 321 7151