Cavities are one of the top oral health problems among kids despite being preventable. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that half of all kids between six and nine years old have had cavities in their baby or permanent teeth. Although the fact that they’re still learning good dental hygiene habits may play a role in cavity development, another factor is their favorite drinks! Everything is better in moderation, but sometimes, it can be difficult for young kids to consume juice, milk, and other delicious beverages in moderation. Read on to learn more about how these popular kids’ drinks can lead to decay.
Milk
There’s no doubt that milk is an essential staple for your child’s diet, and an even more essential provider of key nutrients like calcium! However, one thing that parents often don’t consider whenever they let their little one sip on milk from a sippy cup all day is that it has sugar in it. By regularly exposing the teeth to sugar throughout the day, your child can be at a drastically higher risk of developing cavities.
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice of all kinds, whether it’s apple, cranberry, orange, or even Capri-Suns, can have incredibly high amount of sugar. While these can be a delicious treat for your child with meals, it’s important to limit their consumption of this beverage to curb their threat of cavities. Some parents even dilute the juice so it’s less sugary!
Soda
Whether you’re an adult or a child, you likely love to crack open a cold Sprite or Pepsi on a warm day. There’s nothing like it, and it’s so incredibly satisfying. However, as your child’s still learning how to properly take care of their teeth, letting them sip on sodas without giving their saliva a chance to wash away the sugar accumulating in their mouth can cause decay. If they drink dark-colored sodas, this can also cause tooth discoloration over time. Additionally, energy drinks and acidic beverages that have a low pH can present some of the same oral health risks as sodas.
Tips for Preventing Cavities in Kids
You shouldn’t completely eliminate important and nutritious beverages like milk from your child’s diet, so what should you do to keep cavities away? It isn’t the fact that your child may drink these beverages that leads to cavities, but how frequently their teeth are exposed to the sugars in them. Because of this, pediatric dentists advise to allow your child to have these in moderation, and to never put them to bed with a sippy cup full of soda, juice, or milk. This long-term and extended exposure to sugar will eventually lead to cavities. In between them drinking sugary beverages, it’s recommended to keep them hydrated with water, which will help wash away sugars and harmful oral bacteria as well.
As a parent, it’s impossible for you to know it all, which is why having helpful and knowledgeable professionals like pediatric dentists on your team can help you learn new and important facts! Although your child may live for these beverages, simple substitutions of water every now and then can go a long way to prevent cavities from forming.
About the Practice
At Brush Pediatric Dentistry, our team includes six highly skilled, board-certified pediatric dentists who are dedicated to helping your most precious smile stay healthy. Whether your child only has one tooth or a full set, our experts have advanced training in preventing the development of common oral health problems among growing smiles, like cavities, gum disease, and more. For questions or to schedule a checkup and cleaning, visit our website or call 630-504-2223.