Many parents know that encouraging their kids to brush and floss twice daily can help prevent oral issues, such as cavities or gum disease. However, it’s also important to remember that their diet can also significantly impact their dental condition.
For instance, if they drink too many sugary beverages, they are more prone to developing tooth decay. Continue reading to learn which drinks can potentially be harmful, so you can help your child build and maintain a beautiful, healthy grin!
Are My Kid’s Cavities Really a Big Deal?
It’s natural to wonder how much your child’s tooth decay really matters in the grand scheme of things, especially in baby teeth that will eventually fall out anyway. But the unfortunate truth is that the bacteria that cause cavities are contagious and can spread from one tooth to another. Not only that, but the disease can penetrate their jawbone or affect their adult teeth as they develop, before they have a chance to push through the gumline.
As a result, the American Dental Association recommends taking your child for their first pediatric dental exam by the time their earliest tooth erupts, usually around their first birthday, and then every 6 months thereafter to help guide their still-developing smile.
What Drinks Might Cause Cavities?
You’re not alone if you’ve decided to help your child prevent oral issues by minimizing their consumption of sodas, sports drinks, or other sugary beverages. Many well-meaning adults provide seemingly healthier alternatives, such as apple or orange juice, that are more likely to contain various nutrients to support your kid’s dental and general health.
However, these options might contain just as much sugar as the sodas you’ve tried to avoid! For example, a food study published in 2019 revealed that sweetened beverages accounted for 62% of children’s drink sales the year prior. Unfortunately, these same products sometimes even included misleading messages on their packaging. According to the report, fruit drinks marketed to youths often contained 5% or less of actual fruit juice, despite containing images of fruit or claims to be “low sugar” or have “no high fructose corn syrup.”
How Can I Help Protect My Child’s Smile?
Thankfully, there are things you can do to help protect your little one’s dental health, such as:
- Check labels. Branding is intended to promote sales, so you may need to check the nutrition label and ingredient list to know how much sugar a product contains.
- Provide healthier alternatives. Drinking more milk, which contains calcium, can help support strong, healthy enamel. Also, water has a neutral pH balance to counter potential acid damage.
- Implement a routine. Brushing and flossing twice daily helps remove sugar, plaque, and bacteria that cause tooth decay and other oral issues.
- Schedule a checkup. If you haven’t already made an appointment, you can help protect their grin by scheduling routine checkups and cleanings every six months.
If you have additional questions about dentist-approved drinks or snacks or how to best care for your child’s smile, you can learn more by scheduling an appointment with their provider!
About the Practice
At Upper Dublin Pediatric Dentistry, your child benefits from two pediatric dental experts who are passionate about helping them build the healthiest, happiest version of their smile. Dr. Natalie Gardner and Dr. Kayleigh Denner collaborate to offer a complete menu of services to meet all your kids’ unique needs conveniently under one roof, including routine preventive visits. Then, they use state-of-the-art technology to enhance patient comfort and deliver accurate treatment results you can rely on. If you’re concerned your child may have cavities, you can request an appointment on the website or call (267) 481-7707.