Cavity Culprits: 5 School Lunches & Snacks to Avoid

Did you know that a whopping 90% of Americans have had at least one cavity by their 21^st birthday? Yikes! While a solid at-home oral hygiene routine and biannual visits to the dentist can make all the difference in your child’s oral health, it’s important to also consider their diet, especially during back-to-school season. After all, whatever your child eats during lunch will sit on their teeth until they brush that evening. With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few school lunches your child should avoid as well as some mouth-healthy alternatives.

5 School Lunches & Snacks to Avoid

To keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy from the inside out, it’s of the utmost importance that they eat a balanced diet filled with vitamin-rich foods. Unfortunately, there are a few popular school lunch staples that seem healthy, but actually take a serious toll on your child’s oral health. Here are a few of them:

• Canned fruit – This cafeteria staple is jam-packed with added sugars and preservatives.
• Juice boxes – These cartons are rarely 100% juice and are filled with enamel-eroding sugars.
• Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches – This classic combo is often comprised of sticky ingredients that cling to your child’s teeth throughout the day.
• Chicken nuggets – Filled with saturated fat, fried foods like these are not good for your child’s oral or overall health.
• Chocolate milk – Although the calcium component does have some benefits, the immense amounts of sugar makes this drink a leading culprit of cavities.

7 Mouth-Healthy Alternatives to Consider

Whether you have lots of time to prepare your child’s lunch or are a busy parent on the go, there are lots of healthy, convenient, delicious foods you can put together during hectic school mornings, including:

• Fresh fruit and veggies, like apples and carrots.
• A turkey wrap with whole-grain tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.
• Hard-boiled eggs.
• Plain nuts.
• A colorful salad with your child’s favorite fixings (just be mindful of the dressing).
• An unwrapped burrito with black beans, avocado, corn, salsa, and cheese.
• Water.

Remember, your child’s oral health plays a role in their academic performance. So, it’s important to spend the extra time packing their lunch with mouth-healthy foods!

About the Practice

Led by Dr. Haughtington and Dr. Noreika, our team at Edgewood Dental loves providing patients in Michigan City with caring, skillful, and genuinely enjoyable dentistry. You’ll find a wide variety of treatment options at our conveniently located office, from essential preventive care to tooth-saving restorative dentistry. That way, you and your family can enjoy healthy, happy smiles throughout the years! If your child is overdue for their six-month checkup or has been complaining about a toothache, don’t hesitate to visit our website or give us a call at 219-898-4545.