Frequent snacking on foods containing sugar increases a child's risk of getting cavities. Each time your child eats sugar, plaque in the mouth combines with sugar to produce acid. These acid attacks on the teeth over time can destroy the tooth structure.Try to avoid establishing a ‘sweet tooth’ by limiting foods high in sugar.
SNACK FACTS is just a suitable suggestion regarding what could be eaten and not just what should not be eaten especially when it comes to tiffins , mid-day snacks, during travel, etc. These are times when routine rinsing and brushing may not be easy to access.

Try to avoid establishing a ‘sweet tooth’ by limiting foods high in sugar. SNACK FACTS is just a suitable suggestion regarding what could be eaten and not just what should not be eaten especially when it comes to tiffins , mid-day snacks, during travel, etc. These are times when routine rinsing and brushing may not be easy to access.

The following tips could go a long way in making kids enjoy a caries free existence:

• Cut down on high sugar snacks and offer the child snacks, which are low in sugar such as vegetables, cheese, or salads. These do not promote tooth decay.
• Cut down the number of times a day the child eats sugar in food and snacks. With frequent snacks, the acidity of the mouth stays high. This exposes the tooth to acid for extended time periods. Frequency of snacks will increase the risk of getting cavities more than the amount eaten at one sitting.
• Avoid soft, sticky sweets that lodge on and between tooth surfaces, such as toffee, dried fruits, bread, etc. Sticky foods are retained in the mouth longer and as a result, the acid that destroys the tooth is produced for a longer period of time. The consistency of the snacks increases the risk of getting cavities more than the amount eaten.
• Natural sugars (found in breast milk, fruit, milk, and bananas) have the same effects on the child's teeth as refined sugars (found in cold drinks, ice cream, cake). Healthy foods should not be avoided, however, brushing afterwards is important in the prevention of tooth decay.
• Don't give the child sugar-rich foods that stay in the mouth and prolong the acid attack, such as chewing gum, hard candies, lollipops, chikki, etc.
• If mithai is to be served, serve it with meals. Increased saliva flow during meals helps neutralize the effects of sugar.
• Brushing and flossing after snacks and meals is important in preventing cavities that can form from exposure to sugar.

Information on Snacks:
Snacks which are Nutritionally and Dentally Acceptable (Examples)
[Low in sugar / high in nutrients]

Popcorn	Plain yogurt
Vegetables	Eggs
Fruits	Enriched or whole-wheat bread
Nuts and seeds	Whole grain cereal
Meat	Plain milk
Cheese	Tossed salads, whole carrots etc.
Coleslaw	Puffed rice,upma
Chivda,chaklis	Cheese,Toast,Vegetable sand-wiches,Idlis,Dosas

Snacks which are Nutritionally Acceptable but Poor for Teeth (Examples)
[High in sugar / high in nutrients]

Raisins	Pudding
Dried fruits	Chocolate milk
Ice cream	Fruit leather
Milkshakes	Mava cakes /muffins

Snacks which are Nutritionally and Dentally Least Desirable (Examples)
[high in sugar / low in nutrients]

Cake	Wafers,chips,fryums,
Cookies,cream biscuits	Sherbet
Sweet buns	Chikkis
Jam	Chocolate bars

A sensible approach to dealing with poor snacks like these is to make allowance for them once in a while. Ideally, children should eat sweets at a time and place which allows them to brush their teeth afterwards.

In this age of intense marketing, our kids are the prime targets of the junk foods. So keeping their demands and managing their dental health is tricky to balance.

We hope these suggestions help in a little way in maintaining this balance.

WHAT’S IN YOUR SCHOOL TIFFIN BOX TODAY?
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE STUFF WHICH YOU CAN CARRY IN YOUR TIFFIN BOX

• IDLI + COCONUT CHUTNEY + PEELED ORANGE
• CHEESE / EGG SANDWICH + MOSAMBI / ORANGE
• DHOKLA + MINT CHUTNEY + BANANA / APPLE
• ( PANEER / CHEESE + METHI ) PARATHA + CURDS
• VEG PULAV + CUCUMBER RAITA
• EGG CHAT + ANY CITRUS FRUIT
• TOMATO OMLETTE (VEG) + ANY FRUIT CUSTARD
• CHAPPATI + SOFT COOKED VEG / USAL
• DAL PARATHA + TOMATO RAITA
• VEG NOODLES WITH GRATED CHEESE
• SWEET POTATO PATTICE + SLICED SALADS