1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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