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'Oral Health Dietary Guidelines: For Expectant Mothers and Preschool Children' [in] Causes of Dental Cavities and the Role of Good Nutrition
 

Following dietary guidelines that limit the quantity of and time of exposure to foods containing a lot of sugar improves the oral health of infants and preschool children. Nutrition coordinators, health managers, and dental service providers for Head Start programs will find these guidelines in this tip sheet from Head Start Bulletin #71 helpful in menu planning and useful for parental education.

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Pregnant Women

  • Follow the Food Guide Pyramid, taking into account increased needs for pregnancy
  • Take prenatal vitamin/mineral supplement as prescribed
  • Limit intake of cariogenic foods, especially as between-meal snacks

Birth to One Year

  • Avoid allowing infants to sleep or nap with a bottle
  • Avoid excessive consumption of juice
  • Eliminate dipping pacifiers in sweetened foods

One to Two Years

  • Avoid frequent consumption of juice or other sweet drinks in a bottle or sippy cup
  • Encourage weaning from a bottle to a cup
  • Continue avoidance of taking the bottle to bed
  • Promote "tooth-safe" foods for snacks
  • Foster routine eating patterns and following the Food Guide Pyramid

Two to Five Years

  • Discourage slowly eaten, sweet foods, such as candy, lollipops, or suckers.
  • Promote "tooth-safe" foods for snacks
  • Encourage eating at meals following the Food Guide Pyramid

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See also:
     Head Start Bulletin #71



" 'Oral Health Dietary Guidelines: For Expectant Mothers and Preschool Children' [in] Causes of Dental Cavities and the Role of Good Nutrition." Head Start and Partners Forum on Oral Health. Head Start Bulletin #71. HHS/ACF/ACYF/HSB. 2001. English.

Last Reviewed: April 2009

Last Updated: May 8, 2012