Paediatric dentistry--what's new. Paediatric dentistry and diet.

Many children are given so many soft, easy-to-swallow foods that they do not learn to chew. This affects not only their dental development but also their health. Up to one-third of Australian children are overweight and 50 per cent of 10-15 year olds have high levels of serum cholesterol. It's time to encourage children to eat fewer soft, fatty, sugary foods and more fruits, vegetables, chewy breads, and grain-based foods. This paper aims to show that the diet that is good for children's teeth is also good for their health.