Are sweets the only culprits that cause cavities?

Pedodontist in Sharjah

Some of the parents I meet tell me my kids don’t really indulge in chocolates or candy but still seem to have so many cavities. How do they manage to get these?

When we think of tooth decay first thing that comes to our mind is that sugar is the culprit that’s causing all this havoc in our kid’s mouth. We directly associate this with the sweet treats our kids munch like candy, chocolates, cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc but there are hidden sugars in many of the other so called healthy foods (that we think are healthy but probably are not so) that we eat and feed our children as well, such as flavored yogurts, caramel popcorn, fries loaded with ketchup, barbecue sauces, sugary juices and even many types of biscuits and sweet bread. This is why it’s very important to always check the ingredients when you are buying your weekly groceries and lookout for these unwanted sugars that can be avoided.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that children eat no more than 3 teaspoons of sugar per day. Apart from spoiling teeth sugars also cause obesity.

So how can we decrease the sugars in their diet?

Parents should feed their kids more veggies and fruits. Not only is this good for their teeth but this is best for their overall health as well. Try and feed them natural and unprocessed food as much as possible.

Lastly Parents should give their kids more natural sugars in the form of fresh fruits rather than giving them processed sugars in the form of canned juices/colas/energy drinks/concentrated juice. Eating a whole fruit is a healthier option as it contains water, fiber, nutrients, plus it is more filling for your child. Research says the amount of sugar that is in kid’s drinks and diets directly relates to the increase in tooth decay.

Reducing the amount of sugar your child eats isn’t the only way you can take care of their teeth. You can also make their teeth strong and bright by making sure they are brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling their regular dental cleanings every six months.

If you want to know more about healthy foods and cavities do send me a message or call on 065242550. I would love to hear from you. Till then happy healthy food shopping :)