Please help with ideas for a realistic tooth-friendly diet

[venusinfurs]

I've always been on the careful end of the sweet stuff spectrum, yet nonetheless, it seems my seven year old DS has to cut down drastically. The dentist says he needs one filling and we have to radically look at what we are eating. I'm in a complete quandry now, because I already take great care and think he has just inherited my crap teeth, unlike his father's lovely pearly set of gleamers. The main problem seems to be things like fruit smoothies and yoghurts, also yoghurt drinks, which are the main sweet thing in his diet (poor little tyke - honestly, it's so unfair! His friends eat sweets all day!)
I found myself completely at a loss about what to put in his lunchbox today. The dentist has said if he is having diluted juice once a day then he shouldn't have any other sweet drinks, including Innocent smoothies or yoghurt drinks and blithely suggested natural yoghurt. Does anyone's child actually eat this in the real world? Sorry for the rant,but I genuinely want to get it right without completely depriving the poor little soul. One thing she did say was that sugar free gum is a good idea and he hasn;t been allowed it until now, so he's delighted.
I'm genuinely desperate for ideas and would so grateful for anyone's thoughts.

There's no age on the box, but as a guide I would say that as soon as the child is able to chew it up & spit it out. My dd is 3 and she is too young yet to spit effectively, but I think 5 should be ok.

I would use half a tablet tho and make sure they have old clothes on, as it will stain!

Hmm - wonder if I can get them here? Anyone know the Hungarian for "plaque disclosing tablets"???????

Actually a friend heads up Colgate here so will ask him!

Budabeast
I'm afraid I don't know the Hungarian for anything at all! But I do understand your user name now!

Haven't read all the messages so excuse me if I am repeating anything anyone else has said.

I have been told by my dentist that cheddar is a great teeth cleaner after a meal as it is sticky. Perhaps a stick of cheese in the lunchbox to eat at the end might help?

Thank you Spoo. I was doing this anyway, and told the dentist and she sort of waved that away as if it didn't matter. But I'm starting to think she's not the world's greatest dentist now, especially after some comments on here about her going too far!

venus, I am sorry to say, but I think you need a new dentist! If she was any good she would have told you that eating the cheese will produce saliva which neutralises the acid, therefore making the acid attack not so extreme, and reducing the damage.

She really does sound crap, I mean saying that your child should only have 1 sugary intake a day! With the right oral hygiene and a mainly healthy diet, the odd smoothy/sweet drink/choc bar a day won't do a huge amount of harm. Just limit this type of stuff to meal times and make sure he brushes at least twice a day (how's that going, btw?)

Haunted, I think you're right. This thread has really helped and the approach I have come up with is this:

1. Be a little more vigilant about what we eat, without going overboard. Think I'm going to ditch those yoghurt drinks, for eg, and have a bash at natural yog with a bit of honey. But stick with healthy smoothies.
2. Be very very vigilant about dental hygiene - long brushing always done by me, use of Fluorigard and disclosing tablets.
3. Change to my own dentist, who I think is better (long boring story about why we're not at the same one).

What do you think? Does that sound like a sensible plan to you?

Very sensible, but watch the honey, tbh a homemade fruit smoothy would be better!

BUT I ma not saying don't do the natural youghut thing!

Good Luck, let me know if you nee anymore advise!

Thank you Haunted. When I say smoothie, I mean those Innocent ones that are just whizzed fruit with no added anything. And I will just add a tiny squidge of honey while he gets used to the natural yog.
I really appreciate your advice and everyone else's - has really genuinely helped me.

Great, glad to have hepled. If you follow it then his tooth should get no worse and he shouldn't suffer any further cavities!

Havent read the entire thread but recently read jane Clark's Yummy which does have a little info on sugar, one interesting fact was that if they have a sugary or milky drink they shouldnt rush off and brush their teeth straight after as that can cause more harm than good, so a half hour gap is needed. This has just made me even more confused about when to brush ds teeth as he goes to sleep afterhaving a bottle of milk