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Home › Articles › Babies › Sugary Drinks and Tooth Decay

Sugary Drinks and Tooth Decay

How Does Sugar Affect Your Child's Smile?

By Teri Brown

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"I like to tell children that every time you have a snack, the 'cavity creeps,' who cause tooth decay, get a snack as well," says Dr. Bozzone. "If parents want to give their children occasional sugary treats, it is best to give it to them with their meals, not as a separate snack. Most toddlers can do just fine on three meals a day and two healthy snacks."

Fostering Dental Health in Your Infant
Dental health starts with cleaning your child's teeth as soon as they appear. Clean teeth don't decay, but even a tiny speck of plaque is capable of causing tooth decay. Although there are special baby toothbrushes, Dr. Bozzone says a washcloth or soft gauze can be used initially. Try not to put your baby to bed with a bottle containing anything other than water.

The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommend babies have their first visit to a dentist by the time they are 1 year old, or no later than six months after the eruption of their first tooth. "We see many 1-year-olds every day at Open Door Family Medical Centers," says Dr. Bozzone. "The first visit for a baby is usually very simple. We check and examine the baby's teeth, look for any signs of decay, demonstrate the correct way to brush and usually apply a fluoride treatment. Fluoride helps strengthen the outermost layer of the tooth, the enamel, so it is more resistant to decay."

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As parents, we are in a perfect position to ensure our children have a lifetime of dental health by limiting the amount of sugary fluids they are allowed to drink, cleaning their teeth regularly and teaching good dental hygiene.

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