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Tough Teeth

April 9th

2009

Tough Teeth

Government studies over the past couple years have indicated that the incidence of cavities in children is on the rise with a 28% increase seen between 1999 and 2004. Fingers are being pointed at an overload of sugary foods in the diets of children ages two through five. When was the last time you took your youngster to the dentist? I was floored by the number of cavities my 5 yr-old had in his little mouth! After all, his diet is pretty good considering he has a nutritionist for a mother. He loves his fruits and eats most veggies. But clearly that’s not enough. So I did some research to find out how to increase the strength of our children’s’ teeth and keep cavities at bay.

An essential nutrient in your child’s dental health is calcium- a major component of strong bones and teeth. Making sure your child is getting enough calcium is essential but not so easy. Since some of the top dietary sources include seaweed, sardines, nuts and seeds (especially hazelnuts, brazil nuts and sunflower seeds), dairy, leafy greens like kale, collard and turnip greens, it might take some ingenuity to get natural sources of calcium in your child’s diet. Dairy is a no-brainer. Low-fat yogurt and cheese are great snacks and come in a variety of flavors and forms. Believe it or not, my son loves seaweed. Maybe it’s the weirdness factor of eating “fish food” but he’ll eat it in California rolls, as seaweed salad, or even just munching up a seasoned sheet of dried seaweed (sold in Asian markets). Leafy greens can be a little bitter, which is a turn off to kids. So try sneaking them into their diet by mixing them with your pasta sauce or stir fry, or even chopping them finely and mixing with eggs and cheese for a Dr. Seussical “green eggs” breakfast. And beneficial nuts and seeds, when combined with a few dark chocolate pieces, become a tasty treat.

Calcium absorption is enhanced by anumber of other nutrients. Vitamin D is perhaps one of the biggest players as a calcium co-factor. Our bodies make vitamin D from sunlight, so get those kids outdoors for 20-30 minutes a day! Magnesium which is found in dried seaweeds (think asian food), beans, whole grains, and nuts, and Silicon which is found in lettuce, parsnips, oats, brown rice, strawberries, celery, cucumbers and carrots are other key factors in calcium absorption.

Beyond essential nutrients, most dentists point to fluoride as an important part of growing strong teeth. Fluoride is stored in teeth and bones and plays a role in the hardening of dental enamel, decreasing the risk of cavities. It’s in our kids’ vitamins, toothpaste, mouthwash, and drinking water. Here’s the thing with fluoride: When naturally occurring fluoride and calcium combine they help create a hard tooth surface and strong bone structure. Good. But the controversy comes from the fact that the fluoride compounds used in fluoridated water are typically sodium fluoride and fluorosilic acid, which happen to be toxic by-products of the aluminum and fertilizer industries. Not good. Many European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France and Norway have either banned water fluoridation or have never fluoridated their water supply because of lack of scientific evidence it is beneficial and not ultimately harmful to our health. While some environmental sources of fluoride are unavoidable, increasing your child’s intake of foods naturally rich in fluoride seems a better option than increasing their environmental sources. Dietary sources of fluoride include goats milk, seaweed, rice, parsley, avocados, cabbage, black eyed peas, lemongrass, and green tea.

Now let’s discuss bugs. The bacteria native in our mouths naturally form a biofilm on our teeth called plaque. We’ve all heard of it. We all have it. These bacteria thrive off of the carbohydrates and sugars in our diet. When the plaque-causing bacteria consume sugars they produce acid, which when left on the teeth too long (due to poor diet or poor oral hygiene) eats away at tooth enamel, allowing cavities, or decay, to occur. Sugar is the worst enemy to the health of our children’s teeth. Sticky and starchy foods do the most damage as they leave a sugary residue on teeth that is not easily washed away by saliva. These sticky sweet foods should be limited and include raisins and dried fruits, chewy granola bars, honey, chewy candies, slow-dissolving hard candies, baked goods made from white flour, and sugary drinks like juice and soda. On the occasions when our kids do eat sticky or sugary foods, follow it up with a glass of water and have them swish vigorously, if a toothbrush isn’t handy of course. Healthy treats to opt for include fresh fruits and veggies as they help to cleanse and stimulate the teeth, whole wheat crackers and breads, low-fat yogurt and cheeses, and nuts and seeds. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day, brushing twice daily and flossing will also help to prevent plaque build-up and the decay that results.