Every parent is aware that chocolates, lollies, and fizzy drinks are bad for their children’s teeth. This is because the sugar in these foods and drinks are harmful and cause dental decay; a disease that many Aussie kids suffer from. This is a disease that is almost entirely preventable.
What is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is caused by the frequency of eating foods high in sugar, but other foods that are high in natural sugars or starch also pose a risk and should be eaten in moderation. Every time we eat or drink our teeth are exposed to the sugars, and the bacteria in our mouths (plaque) use these sugars to make acid, and if teeth are exposed to this acid long enough holes (cavities) develop – this is known as tooth decay.
As the statistics are alarming there has been a movement among patients and their families to reduce this. Services such as a Dental Hygienists are educating families in how to maintain a clean healthy mouth, reinforcing good oral hygiene methods and dietary advice that will help in reducing dental decay. This education has made families aware how beneficial regular dental appointments are and how preventing dental decay can be a lot cheaper in the long run.
It’s unrealistic to never give your child sugary foods/drinks especially in today’s society. But it is important to be aware when choosing snacks for your children not only of how much sugar is in them, but more importantly that you reduce the frequency that they are eaten.
The frequency within which these foods are consumed dramatically increases the risk of decay. It is better to let your child have the sugary foods/drinks together, rather than letting them snack on small bits of sugary foods throughout the day as this causes the sugars to stick to the teeth for longer, causing more decay.
Some people are under the impression that if you brush after eating sugary foods and drinks that that will counterbalance eating that food and that the risk of developing decay is gone.
This is not the case; eating the sugary food/or snack does cause an acid attack and brushing will not stop it. Although brushing helps to remove the plaque off teeth, you should wait at least one hour after eating before brushing. Any sooner and it can erode tooth surfaces further because the acid attack has caused your enamel to be weak.
It’s a Fact that if no-one ate sugar there would be no tooth decay, but in today’s society it’s all around us and this is virtually impossible especially with the sneaky marketing of industry corporations.
So the best we can do as a society is to recognise it’s everywhere and to eat these foods/drinks in moderation and take measures in preventing our children from developing bad eating habits and maintaining the educational services that are provided at the dentist that can be utilised in helping the next generation of kids.
The general consensus is children don’t like vegetables!
So how can we get them to eat healthily?
- Make meal time a positive environment
- Encourage children to cook and show them where food comes from (this can be done through books, the internet or planting your own vegetable garden)
- As your child watches you cook allow them to assist where possible
- Make different meals with a variety of different foods on a regular basis
- Make it a game and quiz them on all the different foods (can they tell the difference between a cucumber and zucchini?)
- It always helps if the parents set a good example in eating all their vegetables (if you get to do it, usually kids want to do it, this includes not eating greens!)
- Give clear and brief instructions on what’s expected of the child
- Start with small portions and praise them for eating a bit of each vegetable
- Known fact: Kids need to taste something up to 10 times before their taste buds can adjust
- Persistence will pay off
Easier said than done right? Busy families can be caught up in daily activities and forget that in the big scheme of things these early habits are so important for the future of these children and their future kids.
So what can my children snack on? Finding healthy alternatives for snacking can be a challenge especially for busy families, here are some tips that may help.
Healthy Snack Ideas and Tips:
- Remember, snacks are meals in between main meals so they should be light and low in sugar
- Fresh is best. Packaged foods are generally higher in sugar than their fresh alternatives (example: grapes vs. sultanas)
- Always read the label – if sugar is listed in the top three ingredients it’s usually not a good sign. Ingredients must be ordered on labels in descending order by ingoing weight; so the product is made up mostly of the first few ingredients listed.
- Searching online is a great way to find healthy snack ideas for you and the kids
Even incorporating the smallest change in your decision making and planning family meals can have a positive effect on your child’s teeth as they will eventually embrace these good eating habits, especially if the people they look up to the most are following suit.
