UCLA Community Oral Health Program Nutrition • Eat healthy foods, like whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; and low-fat milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yogurt. Meats, fish, chicken, eggs, beans, and nuts are great choices. UCLA Community Oral Health Program Module 5: Nutrition Add from smiles for life and WIC

UCLA Community Oral Health Program No Sweets • Eat fewer sweets like candy, cookies, cake, and dried fruits. If you eat sweets or drink sugary drinks, have them only at mealtimes. UCLA Community Oral Health Program Module 5: Nutrition

UCLA Community Oral Health Program Limit snacking What your child eats/drinks – and how often - is important in preventing cavities. Limit juice, sports drinks, soda, sugary or sticky foods and candy. UCLA Community Oral Health Program Module 5: Nutrition Bacteria in the mouth produce acid to break down food. Drinks or food that contain sugar and starch cause more acid that breaks down the hard outer surface of the tooth, called enamel. This lets the germs cause decay

UCLA Community Oral Health Program Limit Snacking Limit snacks to 2-3 times per day. Eating and drinking all day may lead to decay! UCLA Community Oral Health Program Module 5: Nutrition The frequency of snacking is far more important than the quantity consumed. Children should not be “grazing” all day on snack. Time between meals allows saliva to wash away food particles that the tooth decay bacteria (germs) would otherwise feast on. Frequent snacking, without brushing afterwards, provides constant fuel to feed the germs that in turn makes acids that weaken the tooth surface and that over time can cause tooth decay.

UCLA Community Oral Health Program Snacks Healthy Snacks Cavity Causing Snacks Tap water J Juice Fresh fruits Soda Nuts (older kids) Candy Cheese Cookies Fresh Vegetables Fruit Snacks Plain Milk Gatorade Yogurt Dried fruit UCLA Community Oral Health Program Module 5: Nutrition • Give your child a variety of healthy snacks, such as: • Fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, or berries • Give your child cut-up or whole fruit instead of fruit juice. • Vegetables like broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, or peppers • Dairy products like low-fat milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yogurt • Give your child water or milk to drink with snacks. • Do not give your child sweets like candy, cookies, and cake at snack time. And do not give your child sweet drinks like fruitflavored drinks, pop (soda), and fruit juice at snack time