tooth-friendly snack ideas
Babies from six months
- Banana slices
- Breadsticks
- Chapatti
- Cubes of cheese
- Cooked carrots
- Green beans
- Mashed banana
- Pitta bread
- Wholemeal toast
- Milk
- Water
Toddlers 1-3 years of age
- Cooked pasta twirls
- Raw vegetables, e.g. cucumber / carrot sticks
- Slices of banana
- Peeled apple slices
- Fingers of toast with cheese spread
- Scrambled egg on toast with tomato slices
- Plain biscuits
- Crackers
- Rice cakes
- Plain yoghurt with chopped fruit
- Glass of milk
- Water with lemon
Older children and adults
- Sandwiches with fillings such as lean meat, chicken, egg, cottage cheese, tuna and sardines
- Baked beans on toast
- Raw vegetables, such as carrot, celery and cucumber sticks (pack in a plastic container so they're readily available)
- Chopped, fresh fruit such as apple, tangerine, kiwi, peaches (fruit disappears in no time when it's prepared and sliced!)
- Bananas are good on-the-move snacks as they are easy to eat and also filling
- Grapes
- Unsalted nuts
- Crisps under 7g of fat per pack
- Bread
- Plain popcorn
- Plain biscuits
- Crisp breads
- Water biscuits / Cream crackers
- Toast
- Crumpets
- Savoury muffins
- Bagels
- Rice cakes
- Cheese on crackers
- Low fat cheese
- Unsweetened yoghurt
- Glass of milk
- Water with slice of lemon
Apples - There has been recent speculation about the kindness of apples to teeth. The typical modern apple has a sugar content of up to 15% and, combined with the naturally high acidity of apples, it has been said that eating too many apples could result in dental erosion, when the protective layering on the teeth is worn away over time. When you eat or drink something acidic, the acid softens the tooth surface and if you brush your teeth straight away you increase the chance of wearing teeth away. Ideally you should leave a minimum of half an hour before brushing to allow your saliva to have chance to buffer any harmful effects or chew some ORBIT Complete sugarfree gum to accelerate the process.
Baked beans - Beans provide protein, fibre and iron and can count towards the five portions of fruit and vegetables we should try to eat each day (3 heaped tablespoons make up one portion). However, baked beans can be high in sugar and salt so choose low-sugar, low-salt varieties when you can.
Bananas - Bananas are a good source of fibre and vitamin C. Never store them in the refrigerator because, as a tropical fruit, bananas develop 'chilling injury' below about 12 degrees celsius.
Bread - Bread contains vitamins, is low in fat and sugar and contains calcium. It is also an important source of fibre, which helps keep our digestive system healthy.
Carrots - Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which our bodies turn into vitamin A. (A deep orange or green colour is a good indication that a fruit or vegetable is loaded with vitamin A.)
Cashew nuts (unsalted) - Like all nuts, cashew nuts are an excellent source of protein and fibre. Cashew nuts are also a good source of B vitamins and it has been said that cashew nuts actually help maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Cheese - As cheese is made from milk, it has all the same nutrients and is very high in protein. However, cheese tends to be high in fat so choose the low fat options where possible.
Cucumbers - Low in calories, with no fat, cholesterol or sodium, cucumbers are a good source of vitamins A and C.
Milk - A naturally nutritious drink, milk is kind to teeth, is a major source of calcium and helps us build strong bones.
Plain yoghurt - Yoghurt is a good source of calcium and protein. To bring flavour to plain yoghurt, add fresh fruit.
Popcorn (plain and unsalted) - Popcorn contains fibre, is low in calories, has no artificial additives or preservatives and is sugarfree.
Water - Water comprises approximately 70% of our total body weight and, although it is not a nutrient, water is an important component of the diet as it is essential for a number of bodily processes. We can live for weeks without food but only a few days without water.