{"id":28,"date":"2020-08-25T21:31:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T21:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/?p=28"},"modified":"2020-08-25T21:31:13","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T21:31:13","slug":"childrens-dentist-in-allen-shares-healthy-snack-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/25\/childrens-dentist-in-allen-shares-healthy-snack-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect Your Child\u2019s Teeth from Cavities with These 4 Healthy Snack Substitutions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/25\/childrens-dentist-in-allen-shares-healthy-snack-ideas\/\" class=\"block-image-link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Child_eating_snack_at_school__.jpg\" alt=\"Child eating snack at school\" class=\"wp-image-29\" width=\"311\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Child_eating_snack_at_school__.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Child_eating_snack_at_school__-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Child_eating_snack_at_school__-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know that roughly 42% of children between the ages of 2 and 11 have cavities? But the staggering statistics don\u2019t stop there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of children between 5 and 11 and 13% of adolescents between 12 and 19 have untreated tooth decay in at least one tooth. Plus, a whopping 91% of Americans have had at least one cavity by their 21<sup>st<\/sup> birthday. When you hear data like this, your first thought may be that a lax brushing and flossing routine is the culprit. However, the root of the issue could be your child\u2019s snacks! A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/childrens-dentistry.html\">children\u2019s dentist in Allen<\/a> shares how cavities form and four healthy substitutions for your little one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding How Cavities Form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand the root of the issue, the best place to start is at the beginning. When your child consumes carbohydrates and sugars, the bacteria in your mouth turns them into acids. From there, the bacteria, acid, food particles, and saliva come together to form plaque, which clings to their teeth and causes decay. Over time, this process creates holes in their teeth called cavities. Therefore, it is important to combine a solid oral hygiene routine with a clean diet to keep their teeth strong from the inside-out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4 Healthy Snack Substitutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep your child energized at school, it is crucial to pack their lunch with nutritious and equally as delicious snacks. Unfortunately, high-sugar drinks and carbohydrate-dense foods can leave their teeth vulnerable to cavities and tooth decay in the process. Therefore, opt for the below substitutions instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Celery with peanut butter and raisins<\/strong> \u2013 Otherwise known as ants on a log, this vitamin-rich snack idea is the perfect balance of carbs, protein, and fat. Plus, crunchy vegetables (like raw celery) can act as a natural toothbrush to keep your child\u2019s teeth clean between meals! Just make sure to opt for peanut butter that doesn\u2019t include added sugar or vegetable oils.<\/li><li><strong>Yogurt <\/strong>\u2013 This deliciously creamy snack is a great source of both protein and calcium, which are instrumental in developing strong bones. Plus, they come in a variety of flavors, so you can find one that your child will genuinely look forward to eating.<\/li><li><strong>Trail mix<\/strong> \u2013 If your child is allergic to nuts or the packs available at your local store are jam-packed with sugar, you may think trail mix is an absolute no-go. However, crafting your own at home with dried fruit, whole-grain cereal, and organic seeds can be both tasty and filling!<\/li><li><strong>Fruit smoothie <\/strong>\u2013 If your child has a sweet tooth, then fresh fruit is the way to go! Plus, you can sneak in a few vegetables into the blender without them knowing since the sweetness of the fruit is so overpowering. That way, they get all the nutrients they need in one delicious treat.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to avoiding cavities, it is crucial to view your child\u2019s eating habits as a part of their dental hygiene regimen. Therefore, offer your child one of the above snacks the next time they are feeling hungry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/meet-your-dentist.html\">Dr. Lewis<\/a>, patients can expect a gentle approach, advanced techniques, and world-class services that result in healthy, beautiful smiles. So, whether you need a routine cleaning, a dentist for your child, or a smile upgrade, you can have peace of mind knowing you are in the best hands. If you are looking for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/about-us.html\">dentist in Allen<\/a>, don\u2019t hesitate to visit her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/request-an-appointment.html\">website<\/a> or give her a call at <strong>972-954-9728<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Did you know that roughly 42% of children between the ages of 2 and 11 have cavities? But the staggering statistics don\u2019t stop there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of children between 5 and 11 and 13% of adolescents between 12 and 19 have untreated tooth decay in at least one tooth. Plus, a whopping 91% of Americans have had at least one cavity by their 21st birthday. When you [&hellip;] <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/25\/childrens-dentist-in-allen-shares-healthy-snack-ideas\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28\/revisions\/30"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allensmiledesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}