Children's Nutrition
What Foods Cause Tooth Decay in Children?

Many different types of food can cause tooth decay in children, not just candy. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, as well as some fruits, juices and sodas, peanut butter, crackers and potato chips are culprits. Factors that cause tooth decay include the frequency in which the foods are eaten and the time they remain as particles in the mouth. Read more to learn which food choices are best for your kids.

Children's Nutrition
High-Sugar Infancy Can Mean Adult Sugar Dependency

Dental habits start forming at about 4 months of age, or at about the time when a baby switches from breast milk or infant formula to other foods, reports the AGD.  This is also the age that a baby's first tooth erupts, and the types of foods that are introduced to the baby at this time can affect a lifetime of dental health. In fact, a strong correlation has been found between the use of sweetened drinks in infancy and the consumption of sugar-containing snacks in later years.

Adult Nutrition
You, and Your Mouth, are What You Eat

Your mouth can say a lot about what you're eating, and your dentist may be the first person to spot potential nutritional imbalances, according to the AGD. Nutritional deficiencies result when there is an imbalance between what the body needs and what it is getting, and those imbalances are particularly reflected in the oral cavity. The sensitivity of oral tissue can be particularly telling regarding deficiencies in folic acid, zinc and iron, which can show up as gum disease. Read more about other conditions that can also show symptoms in the mouth.

FAQs: Nutrition

You must include minerals and nutrients in your diet in order for the body’s tissues to resist infection. The presence of too much or too little of any nutrient can have harmful effects, particularly on the mouth and teeth, and may contribute to oral diseases and infection. There are many minerals and nutrients that are good for the entire body. Click here to read more about some of the minerals and nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.