{"id":1088,"date":"2021-05-14T16:10:59","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T21:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentistryforkids.info\/?p=1088"},"modified":"2024-11-07T17:35:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T17:35:23","slug":"long-term-dental-effects-of-common-kids-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/2021\/05\/long-term-dental-effects-of-common-kids-drinks\/","title":{"rendered":"Long-Term Dental Effects of Common Kids Drinks"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all know that too many sweets, like candy or cupcakes, can be damaging to our child\u2019s oral hygiene and overall health. However, it can be easy to overlook the hidden sugars in the things they drink every day. A <\/span>study by the CDC<\/span><\/a> found that <\/span>almost two-thirds of kids consume at least one sugar-sweetened beverage a day. Limiting your child\u2019s intake of these sugary drinks, especially at a young age, is a key component to prevent long-term damage to their teeth. <\/span><\/p>\n

How Do Sugary Drinks Affect My Child\u2019s Teeth?<\/span><\/h2>\n

When your child drinks a glass of juice or soda, the added sugars in the beverage latch onto their teeth. The sugar molecules then mix with the normally healthy bacteria found in their mouths creating high levels of acid. This combination creates what is called an acid attack. <\/span><\/p>\n

With every sip of the sugary drink, the acid begins to weaken the teeth\u2019s first line of defense<\/span>\u2014<\/i><\/b>the enamel. This is especially true for drinks like diet\/regular soda, lemonade\/citrus juices, and sports\/energy drinks which are already high in acid. Damage or loss of enamel is the leading cause of tooth decay and can cause cavities, temperature sensitivity, as well as tooth infections.<\/span> Because enamel can\u2019t be replaced by our bodies once it\u2019s lost, it\u2019s even more important to teach our kids these healthy habits from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Drinks and their Hidden Sugar<\/span><\/h2>\n

The trouble with spotting sugar is it goes by many different names and forms. If you’re reading a nutrition label and spot corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, stevia, and sucrose<\/span>\u2014<\/i><\/b>that\u2019s added sugar! Don\u2019t be fooled by \u201cdiet\u201d or \u201csugar free\u201d drinks, as they too use artificial sweeteners that are just as harmful to your child’s smile. Having a little added sugar once in a while as a treat is okay, but it serves no nutritional value and can cause more harm in the long run. <\/span>According to the American Heart Association<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>kids 2-18 should have less than 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily while kids under 2 shouldn\u2019t have any. Some of the common beverages below have more than a day\u2019s worth in a single serving!<\/span>  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
    \n
  • Fruit Juices (apple, orange, grape, lemonade) <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
23g<\/span><\/td>\n4 teaspoons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Flavored Milk (strawberry, chocolate)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
28g+<\/span><\/td>\n7 teaspoons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Sports Drinks <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
33.5g <\/span><\/td>\n8 teaspoons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Regular Soda<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
38g<\/span><\/td>\n9 teaspoons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/h2>\n

Swap Your Sugary Drinks<\/span><\/h2>\n

At Pediatric Dentistry, we try to encourage families to choose smile-friendly drink options.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Water<\/span><\/h3>\n

Drinking plenty of water is a huge benefit to your child\u2019s overall wellbeing. When it comes to teeth, it\u2019s an oral hygiene superstar! It acts as a natural shower for your kid’s mouth to help wash away plaque and food build up. It also helps produce saliva which protects their teeth from unwanted acid. Whenever filling up your child\u2019s sippy for bedtime or naptime, H2O is the way to go to avoid long-term damage. For a fun twist, <\/span>try infusing water with fresh fruit<\/span><\/a> for added flavor! <\/span><\/p>\n

Milk<\/span><\/h3>\n

A favorite drink of youngsters everywhere, milk is high in many minerals that help protect your teeth. It contains proteins that help form a barrier on the surface of your teeth. Milk is also rich in calcium and phosphorus which helps repair damage caused by acid. Although water is the best solution, drinking milk after eating sugary treats can help neutralize acid attacks. Try to avoid giving your child a sippy full before bedtime or naptime as the small amounts of sugar can still cause long-term problems. However, a glass or two of unflavored milk along with regular brushing can help promote good oral hygiene.<\/span><\/p>\n

100% Fruit Juice<\/span><\/h3>\n

Like everything in life, moderation is key. Giving your child fruit juice is okay, just make sure it\u2019s 100% fruit juice over the artificial stuff. Natural fruit has plenty of vitamins and minerals that support gum and tooth health. It\u2019s recommended that kids only drink about 6 ounces a day. Fruit juices can be acidic so try to wait 20-30 minutes before brushing their teeth to avoid damage. Make juice a special treat or try cutting it down with water to limit the sugar exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Schedule Regular Appointments with Your Dentist <\/span><\/h3>\n

Hidden sugars are everywhere so remember that moderation is key. Being aware of what your child is drinking and teaching them healthy habits is an important part of protecting their oral and overall health. At Pediatric Dentistry, our specialists are here to help you develop strategies to maintain your kid\u2019s smile. <\/span>Contact our Des Moines or Ankeny office<\/span><\/a> and our friendly staff will help you schedule a check-up today.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know that too many sweets, like candy or cupcakes, can be damaging to our child\u2019s oral hygiene and overall health. However, it can be easy to overlook the [ more <\/i><\/a> ]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Long-Term Dental Effects of Common Kids Drinks","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover how sugary drinks affect your child's teeth, some common drinks with hidden sugar, and what to swap in to reduce sugar for a healthier smile.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1088"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1264,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1088\/revisions\/1264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}