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It’s Not Just Sugar: Kids and Cavities

The importance of regular checkups, cleanings and exams goes far beyond the health of your smile.

It is easy to think of cavities as the result of too many lollipops, or candy chews, or hard candies, but it isn’t just sugar that can contribute to plaque build up, and eventually, tooth decay. Kids and cavities may seem like an inevitable pairing, but there are many foods that can contribute to tooth decay that we don’t often think of.

Crumbly Snacks and Potato Chips

Many crumbly snacks such as goldfish, crackers, potato chips, or corn chips contain high amounts of starch, and the crumbly or crunchy nature of them means small pieces can get stuck in the hard to reach spaces on your child’s teeth, contributing to plaque build up and tooth decay.

Dried Fruit

Although when we think of sticky sugary snacks, we think of gummy candy, lollipops, or sticky syrup, but dried fruit can have a similar effect on teeth, sticking to the surface and causing decay from high levels of sugar or acid contributing to plaque build up. This can cause trouble for kids and cavities down the road.

Fruit Juice

Fruit juice seems healthier than soda, but nothing beats cold clear water for a healthy beverage. Fruit juices contain all the same things that dried fruit do, and can affect teeth similarly. Also, if juice pools in a child’s mouth while they are sleeping or drinking, it can exacerbate the problem.

PB & J

This lunch staple doesn’t look dangerous to kids and cavities don’t seem like the first thought associated with pb&j, but the high sugar content in the peanut butter and jam, plus the potential of sticking to the teeth also can cause the same cavity inducing conditions if eaten regularly.

Citrus

Citrus is an acidic food that can cause wear on tooth enamel for kids and cavities could eventually be the result of a diet high in acidic foods like citrus, or tomato sauce. Some fruit juices can also be very high in acid.

Giving your children plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, like celery or apple slices, or carrot sticks, and plenty of water can go a long way to supporting their oral health. Also, a regular dental cleaning can help assess kids and cavities.

Call our Sun City West dental office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

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