While it can be difficult at any time of year, summer is a particularly difficult time to keep your kids off of sugary drinks. Ensuring that your children stay hydrating during these warmer months is essential, but it can be difficult to get them to drink enough fluids while avoiding unhealthy sugars and acids. To help parents out with this difficult situation, we’ve put together a few healthy drink alternatives that will ensure your children both stay hydrated and keep their smiles looking great.
A Collection Of Great Drinks For Healthy Teeth
Obviously, the best drink for kids for staying hydrated and protecting their teeth is water, but it can be something of a struggle to get them to drink enough. Some alternatives include:
- Whole Milk – Along with having the vitamins and minerals your kids need for healthy teeth, milk is also a good source of water. Almond, coconut, or rice milk are also good options for those avoiding dairy.
- Smoothies – This refers not to the ones made at your local barista or smoothie bar but healthy ones made at home. Some bananas, berries, and even a few vegetables can help your children stay hydrated while getting important minerals and nutrients.
- Fruit Juice – Rather than getting juice from the store, squeeze your children some juice from fresh fruits. Made at home, these drinks have less sugar than those available in the stores. Get a juice, and you can create your own custom blends they’ll love.
- Flavored Water – Take some fruit and put it in a container of water overnight. This will add some flavor to the water without packing it full of sugars. Serve it with some healthy fruit, and they’ll get plenty of hydration and a great snack.
- Coconut Water – This is going to be a complete win or a hard no for most kids. Those who love the taste of coconut water will enjoy the sweet taste provided by the natural sugars. They’ll also benefit from the immense amounts of potassium, magnesium, and Vitamin C, as well as the electrolytes it contains.
- High Water Fruits and Veggies – There’s quite a number of fruits that have high water content and don’t need sweetening to improve their taste. In fact, watermelon goes great with a sprinkling of salt, and cucumbers can benefit from a short soak in herbs and vinegar. If you’re at a BBQ, consider grilling the fruit for an extra boost.
Each of these options will provide your child with the hydration they need while providing a little something extra. While fruit can be a little high in sugar, they’re almost universally better for you than any soda or other sugary drink.
Consult Your Dentist For Additional Oral Health Tricks This Summer
In addition to taking these steps to help protect your children’s teeth from the dangers of high sugar drinks, there’s more you can do this summer. Talk to your dentist to learn about special risks from swimming in chlorinated pools and natural water alike. They can also suggest healthy snacks that will provide the nutrients their teeth need and more. Call today to find out what tips and tricks they have to offer you and your family.
