IF your little one has returned back to school or is preparing to head back to education sometime soon, you’ve come to the right place.
It can be difficult to know what to put in your child’s lunch box – after all, you want them to enjoy their food but it’s got to be healthy at the same time, right?
We spoke to a dental expert to get their opinion on what parents should be packing in their children’s lunch box.
Dr. Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist at European leading orthodontics chain Impress, has shared his top tips on looking after your little one’s mouth, including which snacks to pack in their lunch box.
Dr. Khaled emphasised the importance of not letting your child eat too much sugar throughout the day.
He explained: “While you won’t be watching your little one 24/7 anymore, you do have control over what food they eat.
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“When packing their lunch box, you should be mindful of how much sugar is in there, and that’s because too much sugar will increase acidity in the mouth, which if left for too long will slowly dissolve the protective enamel on the teeth, creating holes and cavities.
“Thankfully there are lots of yummy treats to include in your little one’s lunch that are good for their teeth”.
The first snack that Dr. Khaled advises you put in your child’s lunch box is chocolate – yes, you heard that right.
Dr. Khaled said: “Surprisingly, chocolate actually helps to fight tooth decay because its grain contains strong antibacterial agents.
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“Don’t go overboard though, a small treat is enough to keep the decay at bay!”
Another snack that should be in your child’s lunch box, according to this dental expert, is cheese.
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Dr. Khaled added: “Full of calcium and Vitamin D, cheese will help to strengthen teeth and whiten enamel.”
Although we all love cheese and chocolate, it’s important that you give your child some fruit in their lunchbox too.
Dr. Khaled continued: “Apples – a crunchy treat, the more you chew the more saliva you produce, which serves as a protector of the teeth while helping to eliminate plaque.”
As well as apples, this dental expert advised parents to pack their child blueberries for their school day.
He advised: “Known for their antioxidant properties, blueberries have very low sugar content and help to protect our gums.”
And finally, Dr. Khaled urged parents to give their children strawberries, to attack bacteria that causes plaque.
He concluded: “Containing a high amount of xylitol, strawberries can help to attack the bacteria that cause dental plaque.
“Who said packed lunches have to be boring?!”
As well as this, it’s important that you make sure that your child drinks plenty of water while at school.
Dr. Khaled explained: “You can’t completely control what your child is drinking while they’re at school but sending them off with a bottle of water and encouraging them to drink as much as possible is important.
“Drinking water has many more benefits than just keeping us hydrated, but it also helps to remove a build-up of plaque and bacteria, helping to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy!
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“There’s so many things to think about when going back to school, from uniforms to after school activities.
“Hopefully these simple tips will help you when establishing that all important dental routine.”
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