4 Foods NOT to Give to Babies
Most pregnant mothers don’t realize the importance of dental care during pregnancy. In fact, due to hormonal changes, your dental health needs extra attention. When it comes to the baby’s dental care, it’s important to pay attention to it even before the first teeth come in.
Babies are born with the first set of teeth hidden under the gums. The front teeth are the first to start sprouting when the baby is around 6-12 months. It can take up to three years before all the milk teeth are in.
Ensuring the health of baby teeth is important because they will eventually make way for permanent teeth to come in. Baby teeth also help shape the face, and enable your child to speak properly. They also help your baby chew food with ease and eat better. This can impact their dietary habits significantly.
What kind of foods should you steer clear of to protect your baby’s dental health?
Sugary Drinks
Children have a natural affinity for sugary drinks. Even breast milk has high sugar content which is why you should always wipe your baby’s gums with a washcloth after breastfeeding. Avoid introducing carbonated drinks and sodas to your children as they cause the tooth enamel to decay. It can also accelerate the growth of cavities.
Citrus Fruits
Some fruits have a higher pH value than others. This makes them more acidic and causes them to erode the tooth enamel. The following fruits are highly acidic in nature and you should avoid giving them to babies even in the form of juice.
- Cranberries
- Blueberries
- Lemons
- Limes
- Grapes
- Pomegranates
Unhealthy snacks
You can serve dessert or sweet things to your child as part of a meal. The higher content of saliva aids the process of washing the food off from the tooth. But sugary treats like lollipops, hard candies, chewy candies, mints, cough drops and other candies can be difficult to remove. They linger and coat the teeth with sugar.
Complex Carbs
Breads, chips and pasta are complex carbs that break down into sugar. This causes the food to stick to teeth longer and failure to rinse it off properly can cause cavities. Always introduce whole grains and foods to your children as they have less additives, coloring, preservatives and sugars. These cannot be broken down easily and can be rinsed with ease.
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