How Your Child’s School Lunch May Cause Cavities to Form

In numerous schools, children can choose from various meal sources, including cafeteria meals, vending machines, and packed lunches. While these options may be appealing, they can impact your child’s dental health in various ways. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, school lunches often fail to provide the necessary nutrition for maintaining good oral health. Instead of promoting strong bones and teeth, school lunches can sometimes contribute to cavity formation. So, what are better alternatives? Here are some suggestions.

How Can School Lunches Lead to Cavities?

Cavities develop when oral bacteria combine with acids, saliva, and sugars or starches from foods and beverages to create plaque that coats the teeth. Regularly consuming lunches containing sugary foods can have a detrimental effect on your child’s teeth, potentially leading to tooth decay. Here are some foods and drinks to steer clear of when preparing your child’s lunch:

• Salty or mouth-drying foods like crackers and pretzels
• Sugary beverages like sodas, sports drinks, and juices
• Stickies like dried fruits and trail mix
• Starchy foods like potato chips
• Acidic foods like pickles
• Snack cakes
• Candy

What to Pack Instead

Making a packed lunch for your child is an excellent strategy to steer clear of cavity-causing foods. Here are some ways to encourage a diet that’s good for their teeth:

• Eat leafy greens – This includes things like spinach and lettuce.
• Eat fresh, fibrous fruits and veggies – This includes apples, carrots, pears, and celery.
• Meet nutritional needs – You can achieve this by packing the right amount of fruits, vegetables, grains, and calcium-fortified dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese, and milk
• Avoid sticky foods – They can’t easily be washed away, so it’s best to avoid packing them for your little one’s lunch.
• Pack the nuts – Almonds contain calcium, protein, and virtually no sugar.
• Give them low-sugar drinks – Water is the best option since it washes away bacteria and food particles.
• Include a travel toothbrush – Packing one of these in your child’s lunch will allow them to get rid of food particles stuck between their pearly whites.

While you can’t monitor your children’s lunchtime choices at school, you can empower them to make wise decisions for their oral well-being. Whether they opt for a school lunch or bring a packed one, you can guide them in making healthy choices that will benefit them for a lifetime.

About the Practice

For those living in the DFW area, Bear Creek Family Dentistry is your trusted destination for top-notch oral health care. Committed to both well-being and bright smiles, their practice offers a wide range of services catering to both children and adults. Their utmost priority is ensuring patient comfort and relaxation during every appointment, creating a welcoming atmosphere for each visit. To explore Bear Creek Family Dentistry’s services or if you want to schedule an appointment, you can visit their website for more info as well as their office phone numbers.