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Get an Early Start for a Healthy Smile

Did you know that your child’s baby teeth are at risk of decay as soon as they begin to show through the gums?  Healthy baby teeth play an important role in your child’s healthy growth and development.  For example, baby teeth hold the place for your child’s permanent teeth to grow in straight. 

Tooth decay in small children is a disease called Early Childhood Caries or is also commonly referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.  It is a disease that can begin when cavity-causing germs are passed from the mother or other family member to the baby. This might happen when an adult shares a spoon or drink, cleans a pacifier with their mouth, or even kisses baby on the mouth.

 Another cause of tooth decay is frequent contact with sugary liquids like fruit juice, milk, and formula.  When a baby or child is put to bed with a bottle or sippy cup filled with one of these liquids, the sugary liquid collects around the teeth while the child is asleep.  Bacteria in the mouth use the sugars as food and produce acids that break down the teeth causing decay. 

A good rule of thumb to remember is that every time your child drinks a sugary drink or eats a sugary snack, acids are at work for at least 20 minutes on their teeth.  If you allow them to walk around with a sippy cup with juice or other sugary drink, this allows repeated attacks on your child’s teeth all day! 

Follow these guidelines to help keep your child’s teeth pearly white and healthy:

·         Introduce a cup when your baby can sit up by themselves and seal their lower lip around it, usually around 6 months of age. 

·         By the age of one, wean your child from the bottle and have them drink from a cup only.

·         Sippy cups were meant to be a transition between the bottle and a regular cup.  They should only be used for a short period of time because they could interfere with proper speech development in addition to causing tooth decay.  Switch to a straw cup as early as possible.

·         Only use sippy cups at meal time or snack time.  Your child will produce more saliva during meals and this will help to wash away food particles from their mouth. 

·         Only allow your child to drink from the sippy cup in their high chair or at the table.  Toddlers who are not yet steady on their feet may fall and cause injury to their mouth. 

·         Offer your child water between meals instead of a sugary drink if they are thirsty between meals.

·         Encourage healthy eating habits for your child including a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Offer nutritious snacks rather than sugary treats.

·         Brush your child’s teeth two times a day with an age-appropriate soft toothbrush.

·         Schedule visits to the dentist every six months beginning when your child’s first tooth appears, but not later than their first birthday.

·         Take advantage of the free fluoride varnish for your child if your WIC office offers that service.



This child has baby bottle tooth decay. This can be prevented by weaning from the bottle
by age one and never putting a child to bed with a bottle or a cup.



- Faye Krause, Dietetic Intern

Appetite Killers!

Do you have a young one who picks at their food at mealtime, barely eating anything?  Do you find yourself pressuring your child to eat more, try certain foods, or clean their plate? It can drive a parent crazy! I know you love your child and want them to be a healthy eater and that is why parents do these things sometimes. But there might be an easier and healthier way to end the mealtime battles: Watch out for appetite killers!

What are appetite killers? Some examples are:

·         Milk

·         Juice

·         Snacks

·         Other drinks (punch, soda, tea)

·         Basically anything except water!

Having any of these appetite killers in the 2-3 hours before a meal can cause your child to not be as hungry or interested in food at meal time. When they are not hungry they may eat less, but also may misbehave at the table instead of eating.

If you are tired of battling your child at mealtime try this: in the 2-3 hours before a meal, the kitchen is closed! No food or drinks (besides water) are allowed. Try to have a schedule where your child is fed 3 meals and 2-3 snacks every 2-3 hours. This gives them enough time to feel hungry in between but not so hungry that they become cranky and tired.

Remember that children do best when we let them decide how much and whether to eat, and even if you watch out for appetite killers and set up a schedule, they still may not eat as much as you want them to. You have to be OK with that. It is normal for kids to eat a little bit some days, a lot on other days, and a “normal” amount on other days.  

-Allison Leonard, RD

Iron 101

It's time for the dreaded finger prick! Before you sequel and look the other way let me steal a few minutes of your day to tell you why this step of your WIC appointment is so important.

During your WIC visit you or your child may get their finger pricked to check iron (Hemoglobin) levels. So why is this so important? Iron is a nutrient that's needed to make hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells (RBCs). The RBCs travel throughout the body to deliver the oxygen to all the cells. If there is not enough iron the body can not produce enough RBCs, which means that the tissues and organs won't get the oxygen they need.

Once we prick your or your child's finger we then test the blood for certain levels......

Children: 11.0 -14.0
Women: 12.0 - 16.0
Pregnant:
         1st Trimester: 11.0
         2nd Trimester: 10.5
         3rd Trimester: 11.0

Don't fret if you're iron levels are a little low! Your WIC nutritionist will talk with you about ways to increase those levels. Here are some common reasons why your iron may be low:

• Too much milk- milk decreases the absorption of iron, aim for no more then 2 cups of milk each day.
• Low iron diet- choose lean meats, beans, eggs, dark leafy vegetables and iron-fortified cereal for a healthy iron rich diet.
• Coffee or tea at mealtimes- these contain tannins which reduce iron absorption, avoid these drinks at mealtimes.
• Lack of Vitamin C- Vitamin C can help with the absorption of Iron when they are eaten together- think cereal with OJ in the morning or tomatoes with meatballs for dinner.
• Skipping Prenatal Vitamins (Women Only)- be sure to take your prenatal vitamin around the same time everyday, that way it becomes part of your everyday routine.

These are just a few common trends when it comes to low iron. Remember talk to your Doctor or WIC Nutritionist if you have any questions or concerns.

Megan Mauer, Nutritionist 

Fourth of July Fun Treats!

We're just a few short days from the 4th of July! We have some recipes that will help complete your celebrations, check them out below! 

Banana Split with a Twist 

http://familyfun.go.com 

Ingredients

• Bananas 
• Watermelon Balls 
• Whipped Cream 
• Berries 
• Chopped Nuts (optional) 
• Granola (optional) 

Directions

1. Cut bananas in half length wise and set on plates.
2. Form watermelon into balls with ice cream scooper and place on top of banana halves.
3. Dollop the watermelon balls with whipped cream and top with nuts and granola. 

Parmesan Dip

http://familyfun.go.com 

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain yogurt 
• 1/4 cup sour cream 
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 
• 1 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1 scallion, trimmed and thinly sliced 
• 1 teaspoon mustard 
• fresh parsley , chopped
• salt and pepper to taste 

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients together in one large bowl until blended. 
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with vegetable dippers such as carrots, sliced peppers and cherry tomatoes.

Rocket Dogs

http://familyfun.go.com

Ingredients

• hot dogs 
• prepared breadstick dough 
• skewers 
• cubed cheese 
• mustard 

Directions

1. Wrap hot dogs with breadstick dough and then insert skewer, letting it poke out the top 
2. Bake the dogs according to the dough package's instructions. 
3. Once dogs are cooked, add a triangle of cheese for a topper, tie a tail of ribbon or aluminum foil and then squeeze on stripes of ketchup and mustard!

Fruit Salad

Ingredients

• Strawberries 
• Blueberries 
• Bananas 
• Apples 
• Lemon 

Directions

1. Wash and cut fruit up and mix in a large bowl. 
2. Squeeze some lemon juice on to the fruit to keep from browning. 

Have a safe and fun 4th of July! 

Megan Mauer, Nutritionist