Preparing for Summer: Healthy Snacks for Happy Smiles
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Summer can make it tough for parents to maintain good nutrition. With kids home and temperatures rising, it’s tempting to grab quick and frequent snacks, but many of those options are loaded with sugar and acids that harm teeth. Keep your child’s smile healthy by focusing on three key factors:
Acidity – Acidic drinks weaken enamel.
Sugar Content – Sugar fuels cavity-causing bacteria.
Stickiness & Duration – The longer food stays in the mouth, the higher the risk.
Best Drink Choices - Skip juices, sports drinks, and sodas, which are high in acid and sugar. Instead, opt for water or regular milk!
Healthy Snack Picks
Go for cold, refreshing, and non-sticky foods, usually found in the outer aisles of the grocery store:
Fresh fruits like apples, pears, watermelon, and berries
Dairy options like cheese and yogurt
Protein sources such as nuts and sandwich meats
Homemade fruit popsicles or ice cream (melts quickly, lowering cavity risk)
What to Avoid:
Sticky snacks: gummies, fruit snacks, dried fruit
Processed sugars: crackers, Goldfish, cookies
Hard candy & lollipops (prolonged sugar exposure)
This summer, keep kids’ teeth strong and healthy by making smart snack choices. A little planning can go a long way in preventing cavities while still allowing for fun, tasty treats. Have questions? Give us a call at Smiles For Kids!