HOPEFULLY WE ALL know how crucial daily flossing and twice-daily brushing are to keeping a growing child’s smile healthy, but the foods they eat are also important for their oral health as they develop.
Antioxidants like vitamin C help fight inflammation in the gums. Vitamin A helps with the production of saliva, the mouth’s first line of defense. A lot of the B vitamins play important roles in oral health too. Vitamin D makes it easier for the body to absorb all the other vitamins so they can do their jobs.
Minerals are critical too. The most obvious is calcium, which builds strong teeth and bones, but we need magnesium before we can get the most out of calcium, zinc helps our immune systems, and iron is what allows our red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout our bodies.
A multivitamin can help, but the best way for a child to get enough of all these important vitamins and minerals is to eat a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, dairy, and fish. Don’t forget to keep the sugar to a minimum, because it’s the worst thing for healthy teeth and gums!
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