Encourage Good Eating Habits

Good eating habits are important for your child's overall health and for strong, healthy teeth. Keep these tips in mind:

• follow Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide when planning meals for children
• encourage your child to choose healthy snacks, and discuss their choices. Teeth-friendly snacks include fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, crackers, popcorn, nuts, and yoghurt. Snacks high in sugar or starch can cause cavities especially if eaten often and left to stay on the teeth. Raisins or other dried fruit, rice marshmallow squares, cookies, chips, granola bars, and fruit roll ups are best eaten as desserts rather than snacks
• offer plain water for thirst between meals.  Drinking juice and soft drinks often during the day can cause cavities
• sweets may be offered occasionally-just be sure the teeth are brushed twice a day