During the summer, it’s important to keep little ones well-hydrated. It’s equally important to make sure the liquids young children are drinking are good for their teeth health. Tooth decay is painful and can affect a child’s ability to eat, grow, sleep, play, learn, hit important developmental milestones, and smile, affecting self-esteem and confidence. This article about hidden sugars in drinks is as relevant today as it was when it first appeared a few years ago. Enjoy!
According to Dr. Jim Congleton, DDS MS, a pediatric dentist in practice at New Bern’s Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, misleading food labels are creating a perfect storm for tooth problems, and that storm is called sugar. “A lot of parents are giving kids way too much juice. Advertising leads them to believe there is no sugar in juices and they are good for children. For instance, an apple juice label may say 100% Natural with No Sugar Added. Don’t believe it. Read the nutrition facts per serving. That’s something parents forget too, that these foods have serving sizes–apple juice has 26 grams of sugar, about five teaspoons. And, some are as high as 38 grams, which is seven-plus teaspoons of sugar per serving. A container of fast food chocolate milk contains 25 grams of sugar, again, about five teaspoons. That’s a lot!
“Along with the amount per serving is the frequency of serving–how many times a day does the child get juice or flavored milk? Many parents fill and refill a cup and the child drinks all day long. That’s as bad as taking a bottle to bed. And, a lot of these kids don’t eat well; they’re never hungry because they’re full of sugary juice.”
Dr. Congleton’s best advice? “Remember, no sugar means no tooth decay. Give kids water or plain milk at meal and snack times and replace juice completely with fresh fruit such as oranges, strawberries, apples, pears, blueberries, peaches, melons and grapes, cut up into small pieces. These are better for small children, providing them with vitamin C as well as fiber, which is good for teeth and the digestive system. Avoid raisins because they are gooey and stick to the teeth.”
Still confused about reading labels? Try Dr. Congleton’s tip: Every time you read a food label for sugar, hold up your hand and count five fingers as a reminder that five grams of sugar equals one teaspoon.
