Dental Nutrition Tips

Summer is here and sports is in full swing. You have soccer practice, swim team, karate, football camp, basketball camp and dance classes for the little ones. Your running like wild cats and dogs trying to get to every practice on time. Your rush home, tell your kids to eat whatever they want and you run out the door to the next practice. Sound familiar? Sure, we’ve all been there, done that.

Have you ever noticed if your child is running out of gas during practice? Maybe you just thought, “well the coach is running them so of course they’re tired”. Did you ever think it was the “eat whatever you want” that was slowing them down?

Many years ago I coached a youth soccer team and had a tall slender talented young man on our team who was a key player in helping our team place 1st that season.

Steve was a pleasant and dedicated youth and loved the game of soccer. He never missed a practice even though his parents never came and supported him during practices or games. They never once saw him play in the real live exciting weekend games.

With all his dedication, agility and talent he lacked one very important ingredient…endurance. He would, as they say, “run out of gas” early in the game. He was a valuable player and this lack of endurance concerned me a lot.

One day I took him aside and inquired about his eating habits. I found out he ate at the Circle K store down the block from his home as meals at home were seldom, if ever, provided. His diet was “junk food”. The only healthy food he had, to my knowledge, were the sliced oranges, healthy snacks and 100% fruit drinks supplied by our team on game days. We had a great team “mom”!

Obviously our children need our help and guidance in order to avoid the junk food lures that are so enticing, attractive and misleading.

I wonder what Steve’s diet is like today? What health issues is he facing? Does he struggle with cavities, loss of teeth / or periodontal disease? Maybe a great big dental bill!!

The point is good health starts with what you put into your mouth. Whether your playing sports or just playing with the kids next door, eating healthy will improve your overall ability.

A healthy oral cavity is critical to your overall health and should never be ignored in children. So please, provide your kids with a healthy diet and the healthy beautiful smile and attention they need to stay healthy throughout their life.

- Blair
Mr. Nutrition
Nutrition Research Advocate
My Dental Recommendation of the day – Schedule an appointment with your kids pediatrician and get their teeth examined for tooth decay & cavities.