Proper nutrition plays an               important role in the development of healthy teeth and gums. Eating sweets can increase the risk of tooth decay. Sugar combines with bacteria in the mouth to produce acids that attack teeth and gums. The decay is to reduce the acids created by decreasing the high levels of sugar that remain in the mouth after a meal or snack.

For infants:

    As baby teeth erupt, begin cleaning after meals by wiping teeth and gums gently with a soft, cotton cloth. Prevent "baby bottle tooth decay," also known as "nursing bottle mouth," by not letting babies fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth or carry a bottle around all day. The sugars in milk, formula, mother's milk, and fruit juice pool around the teeth, combining with the bacteria in the mouth to produce tooth-decaying acids. Always remove the bottle or nipple from their mouth and straighten them up, being sure they swallow before you put them down to sleep.

    Check whether your water supply is fluoridated. If not, talk with you pediatrician or family doctor about a fluoride drop prescription. Fluoride can reduce the risk of dental caries, and it helps build strong teeth.

For Toddlers and other children:

As children grow, help them learn proper daily dental hygiene. Show them how to brush their teeth correctly. Develop in them the habit of brushing teeth after meals and before bedtime and flossing regularly for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

• Use a fluoride toothpaste.
• Offer a healthy teeth-cleaning food such as fruits and vegetables and hard cheeses instead of sticky, sugary snacks, which are more likely to linger in the mouth for long periods of time.
• Limit between-meal snack foods per day; on in the morning and on in the afternoon is usually adequate. The more often snacks are eaten and longer food particles remain in the mouth without brushing, the greater the risk for tooth decay.

California Department of Education Nutrition                  Education and Training Program