Sneaky Sources of Sugar That Can Lead to Tooth Decay
Sugar gets blamed for a lot of things. While it may not always deserve the bad rap it gets, tooth decay is one area where its poor reputation is well-earned. The bacteria that cause tooth decay love sugar. Unfortunately, reducing the amount of sugar your child eats isn’t always easy, thanks to it hiding in some places you might not expect it to.
Cereal
It feels like a given that some cereals will have high sugar content. But what about cereals that tend to be considered healthy? Some of them may have a higher sugar content than you want your child to consume for a meal or snack. Take a look at the nutrition label on cereals and oatmeal products, paying special attention to occurrences of added sugars. Avoid giving your child cereal with high sugar content frequently to reduce their risk of developing tooth decay.
Flavored Yogurt
Yogurt is another food that has a reputation for being healthy, and in the spirit of fairness, some of it is. Yogurt is generally considered a good source of calcium, an essential nutrient for tooth and bone health. Flavored yogurts, while generally tastier than plain yogurt, tend to have higher quantities of added sugars. That’s especially true of yogurts that have candy or fruit mix-ins. These yogurts increase the risk of developing tooth decay. You may be better off giving your child low-sugar or no-sugar yogurts instead.
Fruit Juice
Fruit is healthy, right? So shouldn’t fruit juice be healthy too? It’s probably a better option than soda, but fruit juice isn’t nearly as good for you or your child as eating the actual fruit it came from. Fruit juice is all but devoid of the fiber that you get when you eat the fruit and it tends to have a lot of sugar. It’s fine to have the occasional glass of fruit juice. Try to stick primarily with water and milk though. These beverages help combat the tooth decay that sugary fruit juices might otherwise cause.
You don’t have to go completely sugar-free to protect your child from tooth decay. It’s okay to have some sugar, provided it’s in limited quantities. Check food labels to see what the sugar content is like. Watch out for those added sugars, which are different from those that occur naturally. Limiting added sugars in addition to good oral hygiene practices may reduce your child’s risk of tooth decay.
Is it time for your child’s first dental appointment? Click here to schedule your first visit with Maccaro Smiles Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry today!
