Tooth Friendly Lunchboxes

A nutritious meal at lunchtime plays an important role in your child’s energy and focus at school. Dr Jennifer Collins, Lead General Dentist at Northumberland Dental Care, has some tips on the types of foods you’re packing in your child’s lunchbox to maximise their oral and overall health. 

“Packing a tooth-friendly school lunchbox doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming as long as you plan ahead in terms of shopping and chopping!” She tells.

Below, Dr Jennifer has outlined some tooth friendly lunchbox ideas.

Personalised Bottle with Tap Water

Fluoridated tap water is the best for developing teeth. Commercial bottled waters don’t always have regulated fluoride levels (or any at all), so it’s best to drink water that comes from your kitchen tap. If your children are very young, a themed cartoon water bottle makes the transition away from sugary juice boxes even easier.

Fresh Veggies and Whole Fruit

Crispy, fibrous fruits and vegetables are great for teeth and gums. When your child chews them, they dislodge plaque residue that’s been there all morning. Apples, carrots, grapes, etc. are all great choices. If your child is craving something sweet, throw in a few berries or melon.

Whole Grains

Processed and bleached breads are full of the types of carbs that lead to more plaque buildup on teeth, and more plaque means more cavities. Consider transitioning your kids to whole grain bread or mixing things up a bit by making sandwich wraps with wholegrain base.

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Cheese is great at neutralising acidic pH levels in your child’s mouth. It’s also packed with calcium for stronger teeth and bones. You can cube this to make it easier to eat for small fingers. 

Yoghurt with Berries and Nuts

Yogurt is chock full of calcium, which is great for oral health. A plain Greek yoghurt is ideal, since flavoured yoghurt is often loaded with sugar and other additives. Add some tooth-friendly fruits like strawberries and blueberries and crunchy chopped nuts like almonds for your little one to mix in. However, it is a good idea to check first to see if there is a no-nut policy in your child’s classroom. 

Don’t forget to book your child’s back-to-school dental exam! You can book online, or call us directly on (01) 668 8441