hard foods for jaw development
Do you want to protect your child’s teeth and jaw? While most children develop well with a standard diet, there are a few things that you should include to make sure their mouths stay strong and healthy.
There are great hard foods for jaw development that can help with this.
3 Best Hard Foods for Jaw Development in Children
When we say “hard foods,” we don’t mean candy. They’re foods that require chewing. While soft foods are good for toothless infants, you need to implement “real food” early on.
Keep reading to learn all about some of the best foods to give a good jaw exercise session to your kids.
1. Fibrous Vegetables and Fruits
All responsible parents know that fruits and vegetables are crucial for their child’s development, but did you know that they should be presented whole for best results?
For infants, baby food that’s rich in vegetables is great, but once you’ve started your child on “real food,” you shouldn’t stick to mushy produce. The occasional applesauce or healthy juice is great, but your child needs that fiber for their stomach and jaw.
Make sure that you keep an eye on your child while they chew to avoid choking hazards. Offer them things like broccoli and apple slices that require some work. If they’re picky, try a creative snack like “ants on a log” to make them think they’re eating a fun sweet instead of healthy food.
2. Lean Protein
Not only is protein good for the jaw due to chewing, but it’s also great for bone development in general.
You want your children to have strong bones from the get-go. It helps them prevent dental health issues in the future or even the need for things like dental implants. You can click here to learn more about dental implants if necessary.
White meat, like chicken, is excellent for this. It’s chewy without being too challenging to eat. If you have a vegetarian or vegan household, consider things like lite tofu or tempeh instead.
3. Sugarless Gum
While young children should avoid gum to avoid the risk of choking, children who are old enough to know better than to swallow gum can take advantage of its benefits.
Sugar isn’t good for your child’s teeth, so sugared gum should be a treat if it’s offered at all. Sugarless gum, though, is approved by the ADA. It can help protect dental health and strengthen the jaw.
When you give your child a piece of sugarless gum, they won’t even know that they’re making their teeth stronger.
Use These Hard Foods for Jaw Development
Regardless of how old your child is, using hard foods for jaw development instead of relying on soft and mushy foods.
A balanced diet is crucial for your child’s overall health and development. Soft foods, like fruit purees and yogurt, are just as important as hard foods. Use a good mix of both for a healthy child.
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