Avoiding Sugary Drinks
Avoiding sugary drinks will help your children maintain healthy teeth and gums. Yet, sometimes that’s easier said than done.
Let’s be honest. Most of our team members are parents. As such, they understand that it can be hard to tell your child “no” when they want a sugary drink.
But putting your foot down can help your child avoid cavities and have a good dental checkup.
In this post, we’ll explain:
- How soda and other sugary drinks affect oral health
- Why sports drinks aren’t as healthy as you might think (ditto with fruit juice)
- How to keep cavities away
Let’s get started.
What Happens if You Drink Soda Every Day?
In the long run, drinking soda every day can cause cavities and gum disease. This is all because of .
Plaque is an invisible, sticky film of bacteria that lives on your child’s teeth and gums. These bacteria love to eat sugar, using it to produce cavity-causing acid.
Over time, this acid will erode your child’s enamel and damage their gums. This is why it’s important to limit sugary foods in your child’s diet.
Are Sports Drinks Bad for Your Teeth?
Sports drinks are often marketed as being healthy for young athletes. But drinking a lot of sports drinks can actually increase your child’s risk of cavities.
Most sports drinks contain high amounts of sugar. But your child should be fine as long as they consume sugary drinks in moderation. Also, will help remove plaque from your child’s teeth.
What About Fruit Juice?
Fruits have a lot of natural sugar. But a lot of fruit juice is also pumped with sugar and artificial sweeteners. This feeds the plaque on your child’s teeth and increases their risk of cavities. Plaque buildup can also lead to gum issues later on in your child’s life.
Fruit juice is a nice treat every once in a while. But drinking it every day can coat your child’s teeth with sugar and plaque. Being mindful of what drinks you bring home can help your child maintain a healthy smile.
How to Keep Cavities Away (For Good)
The next time your child asks for soda, think twice before you give in so easily. The better choice is to reach for a glass of water. The water will help in many healthful ways, but most important—it won’t harm their teeth.
It’s also important to remember that moderation is key. For example, it’s okay if your child has a juice box with their lunch every once in a while. But drinking fruit juice every day can increase the amount of plaque on your child’s teeth.
As an adult, you have a lot of control over what goes into the grocery cart. By bringing home healthy foods, you’ll be able to help your child form good habits that will last a lifetime. You’ll also help your child be cavity-free when they come in for their next dental cleaning with us.
Our final tip is to make sure your child is brushing and flossing their teeth every day. Children (and adults) need to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. They should also floss once daily.
Call Gibson Dental to Learn More!
Dr. Adam Gibson is accepting new patients! Our team would be more than happy to help your child form healthy oral hygiene habits to last a lifetime. To request an appointment with our , call Gibson Dental at (614) 878-9562.