Foods To Avoid

No-No Snacks

The following popular children's snacks can increase or cause tooth decay through increased acid build-up, either because of their high sugar content or their tendency to get stuck between teeth, or both.

• Soft drinks
• Fruit leathers or fruit strings
• Raisins and other dried fruit, like dried cranberries
• Candy bars and chocolate bars
• Cookies
• Flavoured chips
• Chewing gum
• Suckers and lollipops
• Hard candy
• Starchy foods, such as teething biscuits
• Popsicles and other frozen treats

Treats like candy and soft drinks contain no nutritional value, so avoiding or limiting them makes obvious sense. For sugary treats that are otherwise healthy, such as raisins, just limit them and make sure you or children brush and floss their teeth right after eating.