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Sugary Drinks and Tooth Decay
How Does Sugar Affect Your Child's Smile?
By Teri Brown
This is significant because it reminds parents that limiting sugar isn't the only line of defense. Good dental care is also very important to dental health. The longer sugar is allowed to sit in the infant's mouth, the greater the chances for bacteria to multiply and cause dental caries.
"'Caries' is the name for the disease that causes cavities in teeth," says Dr. Bozzone. "It is the most common chronic disease in children and often quoted as being five times more common than the second most prevalent disease, asthma. Caries is caused by bacteria which adhere to teeth in a sticky paste, which we call 'plaque.'"
"Parents have been given the idea (mostly from advertising) that giving children juice to drink is good for them," says Dr. Bozzone. "Most pediatricians, nutritionists and dentists agree that most children do not need to drink juice. It is much more preferable for children to eat whole fruits and vegetables instead of juices. It is also important to remember that any carbohydrate can cause decay."
According to Dr. Bozzone, parents should monitor their children's diets closely. Bad eating habits starting in infancy can lead not only to tooth decay, but obesity as well. Children who tend to be "grazers" are more at risk for developing cavities.
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