Misinformation Fosters Tooth Decay
Many parents and caregivers are uninformed that routine practices like providing healthy snacks and sharing utensils may increase their child’s risk of developing cavities, according to a new survey.
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a leader in children’s oral health.
It found U.S. parents and caregivers are uninformed about cavity-causing bacteria and teeth-friendly snacks. One result showed 96% of U.S. adults with children under 12 years old in their household thought a cracker was better for children’s teeth than a piece of caramel. Starches, however, can also cause cavities like sugars, and caramels dissolve more quickly from the mouth than crackers.
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Says Dr. Beverly Largent, AAPD President:
“Although most parents and caregivers don’t believe they are putting their children at risk for tooth decay, many parents and caregivers unfortunately - and unintentionally - are doing so…Cavities and other dental health issues affect not only your child’s ability to speak and maintain a healthy self-image, but they can contribute to systemic health issues later in life, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This is why we are reminding parents and caregivers about simple things they can do to protect their child’s teeth.”
The AAPD offers these facts that can help protect against tooth decay:
- “Cooked starches, such as pretzels and pasta, can lead to cavities just like sugar. More saliva, which washes away starches and sugars, is produced when eating a meal, so both are safer for teeth if eaten with a meal instead of as a snack.”
- “Caregivers can pass germs that cause cavities from utensils, cups and other objects, so they should be washed thoroughly before sharing with children.”
- “Do not put your young child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice, and in between meals, only serve older children water. When kids sip for extended periods on sugared beverages, they’re exposed to a higher risk of decay.”
- “Don’t be afraid of chocolate milk. It provides protein, calcium and vitamins like white milk and washes off teeth the same. And since children like it, they often drink more.”
- “Tooth decay can start as soon as a tooth appears, so children should see a dentist shortly after their first tooth or before their first birthday.”
For more info on how to keep children’s teeth healthy, visit AAPD online.
Image courtesy of www.freephoto1.com
I thought this was a great post. I’m always trying to learn more about my little boy’s dental health.
Having done a root canal not too long ago, I have actually been thinking a lot about what my parents did and overlooked. I remember my German grandparents always thought it was cute when I was eating sugar right of the box. We also had tons of fruits. At the end, it all comes down to hygiene and educating your child about how to clean the teeth that it will hopefully use for a long long time.
I’m a great grandmother. I knew all the other information, but didn’t know starches were worse for the teeth than sugars.
There’s no question that we can raise a healthier next generation by helping parents learn more about nutrition, physical activity and other health basics like good dental hygiene. Gum disease increases risks of elevated blood sugar and the likelihood that it will develop into diabetes. Then, diabetes and gum disease interact to significantly increase risks of heart attack, stroke, blindness. Starting children out with regular dental visits is a good habit to develop and can pay off for them as adults. We write about the connections between gum disease and diabetes extensively on our blog at http://www.dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog.
Charles Martin DDS
Founder, Dentistry for Diabetics