{"id":103,"date":"2023-09-01T18:08:47","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T18:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthykidsdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=103"},"modified":"2025-04-18T19:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T19:50:43","slug":"school-lunches-what-to-pack-to-help-your-child-avoid-cavities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthykidsdentistry.com\/blog\/school-lunches-what-to-pack-to-help-your-child-avoid-cavities\/","title":{"rendered":"School Lunches: What to Pack to Help Your Child Avoid Cavities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you mindful about what you pack for your child\u2019s school lunches<\/a>? It\u2019s easy to fall into the habit of throwing in a pre-packaged meat, cheese, and cracker tray as well as a small bag of cookies and a juice box, but have you considered how it might be impacting your child\u2019s teeth and gums? Choosing the right foods doesn\u2019t have to be hard, and it can lead to positive feedback from your little one\u2019s dentist during their next visit. Find out which types of food you should pack and which ones to avoid so that cavities do not form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Can Food Lead to Cavities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two key ingredients can spell disaster for teeth \u2013 sugars and carbohydrates. While fine in moderation, you may not realize that many of the so-called \u201chealthy\u201d foods you pack for your child\u2019s lunch are actually harming their pearly whites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When sugars and starches from things like potato chips and cookies remain on your child\u2019s teeth for prolonged periods, it causes plaque to form. Over time, harmful acids can begin to eat away at the outer layer of their teeth (the enamel) and cause it to break down, resulting in cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While regular brushing and flossing are helpful in reducing these harmful developments, your child may not be cleaning their teeth as well as they should, which is why regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings by their pediatric dentist are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Foods Should You Avoid?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When packing your child\u2019s lunch, you\u2019ll want to make sure that you keep the following items out of their lunchbox:<\/p>\n\n\n\n