This fall, I started thinking more about the link between childhood tooth decay and nutrition when I kept finding candy wrappers in my dryer after washing my four children’s clothes. Because I am aware of the strong link between nutrition and tooth decay, I stepped up my game and took over brushing the teeth of my younger two kids and talked with them about making better food choices when I’m not around.
This month, let’s focus on the link between candy-snacking and poor nutrition and increased risk of cavities in young children, so that more parents and grandparents can become aware of what’s happening before cavities start. It’s heartbreaking for me to see preventable tooth decay just because of snack choices during early childhood.
Good nutrition is extremely important in a child’s overall development. When it comes to dental health, nutrition is king… specifically the frequency and duration of carbohydrate consumption. Young children like mine usually get the majority of their food intake at home where parents can control the types of foods kids have access to. But we cannot discount the sugary treats, snacks and candy they get from other sources like holidays, birthday parties and the little candy-buying micro-economies present in elementary schools.
Here are three nutritional challenges to good dental health for your children…
CANDY-SNACKING: Think of the melt-down point of various candies. If you put a Starburst in your mouth, it is going to last a lot longer than a bite of chocolate or Reese’s Cup. The longer the candy hangs out in your mouth, the more damage it will cause. Be aware of the sugar content of hard candies and lollipops since they are often consumed over a longer period of time. If you need a sweet treat, opt instead for a quick-melting, fast-dissolving and possibly low-sugar snack!
FREQUENT-SNACKING: I see significantly more cavities in kids who have frequent access to snacks and sugary drinks. It is a far better approach to just drink down the juice box or polish off the glass of chocolate milk instead of taking many, many sips over the course of an afternoon. Frequent sipping of sugary drinks and frequent snacking brings a constant food source to the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria feast off the sugary carbohydrates and produce acid that erodes the teeth. Continue to feed this bacterial Bacchanalia and the acid produced will lead to increased cavitation and pitting in the teeth.
STICKY-SNACKING: Molars have bumpy, groovy, food-trapping crevices that can fill up with sticky debris from gummies, fruit snacks and other sticky foods. Try to avoid sticky snacking if possible, and if it can’t be prevented, at least go for sticky snacks earlier in the day. The sticky debris that gets stuck in the molars will have more time to come loose during chewing and brushing if it is consumed earlier in the day. Adults should also be aware of the high sugar content of many vitamin gummies and supplements that are marketed as “healthy” products. I see so many “adult-gummies” advertised as healthy and organic supplements. I cannot help but wonder how many of these “second-wave” type cavities are developing in the molars of parents and grandparents who are gummy fans. Just be aware of the sugar content of stickier food products and know how this increased substantivity or stickiness can lead to an increased risk for tooth decay.
There are many ways to help your child prevent tooth decay! Your child’s dentist is here to help answer any questions you have as well as to guide your child towards a lifetime of healthy smiles.
-by Dr. Mandy Ashley
About Our Dentists: Dr. Mandy Ashley and Dr. Madison Galloway are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists proud to serve the communities of Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and Glasgow! We look forward to sharing our vision of excellent comprehensive dental care that is fun for children and people with special healthcare needs with your family.
SKY Pediatric Dentistry has been providing dental care to children and adults with special needs since 2013. As board-certified specialists in dentistry for children, our team strives to make going to the dentist as fun as possible while maintaining high-quality treatment and preventative measures. We tailor treatment plans to each child and offer a wide range of treatment options, including sedation, in-office general anesthesia and also hospital-based dentistry. With over 25 YEARS of doctor experience, SKY Pediatric Dentistry is a great choice for children’s dental care in Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and Glasgow!
