What your child eats is important for healthy teeth, but it's just as important to be careful about when and how often they eat. A balanced diet is important for long-term dental health — teeth that grow properly and healthy gums. When and how often your child eats can have more immediate effects.

Cavities can develop when carbohydrate foods are allowed to stay in the mouth or on the teeth for a long time. Bacteria that live in the mouth feast on these food particles and create an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Time between meals allows saliva to wash away the acid. Frequent snacking keeps the mouth acidic and decay-prone.

When most people think of sugar, they think of sucrose, which is found in candy and baked goods. But all foods containing carbohydrates ultimately break down into simple sugars. Research shows that bacteria do not discriminate. They like pretzels and potato chips just as much as lollipops.

Here are a few tips for snacking and mealtime:

• Give your child healthy snack foods, like fresh fruits, vegetables and cheeses.
• Buy foods that are sugar-free or unsweetened.
• Serve sugary or starchy foods as part of a meal rather than as a snack. Most children drink fluids during a meal that will wash many food particles off the teeth. Saliva also does a good job of clearing the teeth.
• Avoid sticky foods unless your child plans to brush right after he or she eats them. These foods get between teeth and are hard to remove from the grooves in the tooth surface. Some of these foods, which are more likely to lead to cavities, may surprise you: creme-filled sandwich cookies, dried figs, granola bars, jelly beans, oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies, plain doughnuts, potato chips and pretzels, puffed oat cereal and raisins.
• Offer fewer snacks. If your child is eating frequently, the level of acid in the mouth remains high for longer periods of time.
• After your child snacks, make sure his or her teeth are brushed. If this isn't possible, then have him or her rinse with water several times.
• Encourage your child to choose xylitol-sweetened or sugar-free gum.
• Never put your child to bed with a bottle filled with milk, formula, juice or soda.