Eating for a long time – Good or Bad?

Some children eat fast. Some children store the food like a fixed deposit in their mouth and chew slowly, for hours together! The mother gets exhausted trying to feed the child- so either the child is plopped in front of the TV or some cartoon is played on the mobile phone, just to encourage the child to eat!

We have all been through that. But is it good? Or rather, how harmful is this “food-pocketing” behavior, especially in kids? Here are some small daily care tips:

1. Food should be eaten within 20 minutes. Kept longer, it significantly increases the risk of cavities, especially in the lower teeth.
2. Ensure your child washes their mouth immediately after eating.
3. Monitor the level of sugary/ sticky foods in a day. If your child has a sweet tooth, give it as a dessert at the end of a solid meal, like lunch, as a reward for eating fast!
4. In between meal snacks should be avoided…these are the main culprits. Or rather, replace with fresh fruits/ nuts. They self -cleanse the tooth and avoid those sticky deposits

As we keep emphasizing, prevention is better than cure. So the first line of care for those pearly whites, starts at home!