NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2026 — A child’s path to lifelong oral health may begin before birth, according to Dr. Sara B. Babich, a pediatric dentist based on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Citing a growing body of scientific research, Dr. Babich says a mother’s diet during pregnancy can influence a child’s food preferences, eating habits and future dental health.
Research shows that flavor learning starts in the womb. Taste buds form by the eighth week of pregnancy, followed shortly by the development of olfactory cells. As these sensory systems mature, they connect to the fetal brain, allowing taste and smell information to be processed.
By about 15 weeks after conception, a fetus swallows amniotic fluid daily. This fluid carries the flavors of foods consumed by the mother. Studies have demonstrated that compounds from foods such as garlic, vanilla, mint, anise and carrot pass into amniotic fluid and can be detected.
Dr. Babich points to a well-known study in which pregnant women consumed garlic capsules before amniotic fluid samples were taken. Researchers were able to identify the garlic-exposed samples by smell alone, indicating that fetuses were exposed to these flavors. Because taste is largely driven by smell, scientists concluded that fetuses were already “tasting” what their mothers ate.
Evidence suggests these early exposures shape later food preferences. Babies whose mothers drank carrot juice during pregnancy and breastfeeding showed a preference for carrot-flavored cereal at six months. Infants exposed to garlic in utero were more responsive to garlic odors after birth. Long-term effects have also been observed, with children aged eight to nine more likely to eat garlic-flavored foods if their mothers consumed garlic late in pregnancy. Similar patterns have been reported with anise.
“These findings indicate that maternal diet during pregnancy can influence a child’s food choices years later,” Dr. Babich said.
The research also has implications for dental health. Babies are born with an innate preference for sweetness, which helps explain their acceptance of breast milk. Dr. Babich warns that a diet high in sugar during pregnancy may further reinforce a child’s preference for sugary foods. Such preferences are linked to higher risks of childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes and dental cavities.
Diet is a major factor in the development of tooth decay, making early flavor exposure a potential contributor to long-term oral health outcomes.
“When parents ask when they should start thinking about their child’s oral health, my answer is clear,” Dr. Babich said. “Good oral health begins in the womb.”