A child’s dental health is a cause of concern for every parent. Poor oral hygiene, insufficient calcium in the diet and an overdose of sugary and starchy foods can all harm your child’s teeth. The time to take action is now!
When I was a child, I was very fond of chocolates. Every kid is, right? That led to a lot of tooth decay because I just wouldn’t brush my teeth twice a day regularly! No matter how many times my parents reminded me to, I would just forget. The result, of course, was numerous visits to the dentist…
My personal childhood experience of multiple painful root canals was reason enough for me to be very conscious of oral health for my daughter. Thus, I made sure that she brushes her teeth twice a day using that long trusted brand, Colgate dental cream.
Let’s look at the common causes of tooth decay in children!
These can largely be summed up as:
- Poor oral hygiene, resulting in high levels of cavity-causing bacteria
- An unbalanced diet, deficient in calcium
- A diet rich in sugar and starch
The vital time to build strong teeth and bones is when we are children, or in our teens. Calcium, Vitamin D and Phosphorus play a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth in children and impact their health in adulthood as well.
Thus, a healthy diet that is rich in calcium is essential for healthy teeth.
But where do we find this calcium?
For any child, the best sources of calcium are from the food intake. Foods that offer the best natural source of calcium include:
- milk
- yoghurt
- cheese
- soybeans
- broccoli, kale, turnip greens and other leafy greens
- almonds and sesame seeds
- white beans, red beans, and chickpeas
- oranges, figs, and prunes
(The non-dairy sources especially become important for those who find dairy products hard to digest).
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Since calcium is so important, food companies often add it to cereal, bread, juice, and other kid-friendly foods. Still, I am wary of giving too much processed or packaged food to my daughter; therefore, I prefer natural sources of food as well as a toothpaste which strengthens her teeth from within. Calcium being an essential mineral for healthy teeth, this is one aspect that cannot be neglected.
Why does Calcium matter so much?
Calcium is one of the most important minerals which is required during the growing years to support the development of healthy bones and teeth, besides a healthy nervous system and muscle functioning.
Calcium is essential in making the jawbones healthy and strong enough to hold the teeth in place. Moreover, given that oral bacteria are a big cause of tooth decay, calcium becomes even more important – it fortifies the teeth against such bacteria and also helps to repair the damage caused by them to teeth enamel.
To read more please click on the link below https://www.womensweb.in/2019/02/colgate-dental-cream-protect-your-teeth-feb19wk2sr/
Also, check out 4 Fun Health & Hygiene Activities For Kids. This will make brushing fun and you will not need to run around to get your kid to brush his teeth twice daily.
Author’s Note: This post was originally written for Women’s Web.
Nice Post
Thank you
That’s a detailed post Aesha and you have covered most of the aspects of calcium and its benefits and sources. For people who are lactose intolerant, finding calcium rich non dairy sources is a challenge. Thanks for pointing out those here. And yes Colgate is a trusted brand, have been using it for years.
Thanks Anshu.