Kids can be picky eaters and demand soft drinks and sugary treats often, but it’s very important to establish healthy eating habits from an early age—not just because of the health effects on their body and growth overall, but because it affects their oral health too! Many parents aren’t aware of how sugar affects baby teeth and what causes cavities. Read on to discover how sugary and acidic food and drink affect your child’s teeth and how to help them have healthier eating habits.
What Causes Cavities?
A cavity requires three things to form: a tooth, bacteria, and carbohydrates (in other words: sugar). Once you consume sugars, it only takes 20 seconds for the bacteria on your teeth to combine with the sugar and turn into acid. This acid begins to attack tooth enamel and break it down. Over time this reaction of sugar and bacteria results in tooth decay, which leads to cavities.
LOWERING SUGAR INTAKE FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEETH
Just like anything else, sugar will usually not harm your child’s health in moderation. Unless your doctor recommends it, you don’t have to cut it out completely. Instead, you can lower your child’s intake a little at a time. When you reduce the amount of sugar your child consumes, they not only have a healthier smile, but they also have a lower risk of diabetes and obesity.
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