Eating

1.) Children should receive a balanced diet daily to help support proper tooth development.

This balanced diet includes:

    -food from the major food groups

    -limiting consumption of sugar/starch foods

2.) Children should be encouraged to have breakfast to avoid increased snacking between meals during the day

    –Risk of cavities increases when sugar is consumed between meals

    -Snacks have the highest sugar content of any meal

3.) Avoid foods and beverages high in acidic content as tooth structure weakens and leads to increased cavities.

For example: 
      -diet sodas, flavored waters, fruit juices, sports drinks

4.) Offer milk or fruit juices only at mealtimes

    - Saliva production is increased during a meal and helps to neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth

- Between mealtimes, offer your child water to drink

---

Nursing to Sippy Cups

1.) At will nighttime breast feeding should be avoided once eruption of first tooth begins
 
2.) Children should not be put to bed with a bottle to avoid the development of “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”

 Baby Bottle Tooth Decay~

    - Prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth to liquids containing sugar, including milk, formula and fruit juice can cause severe cavities 

    - If child must have bottle at night- it should only contain water

3.) Children should be encouraged to drink from a cup by their 1st birthday

4.) Do not let your child constantly sip liquids containing sugar, including milk and juice drinks

     - Limit fruit juice to 4-6 ounces a day for children age 1-6

---

Training Cups

1.) The best training cup for your child is one without a valve

2.) Cups with valves do not allow your child to sip and continue a sucking behavior

3.) Useful training cups will have a snap-on or screw-on lid with a spout