How Less Sugar Helps Little Smiles

By now, you probably know that sugar isn’t your smile’s best friend. The trouble is, our families often love everything sugary. Sometimes for kids, the sweeter the better. We think it’s important to understand how consuming less sugar can help your child’s dental health so that you can continue to steer them towards healthy habits as they get older.

Sugar & Bacteria

The bacteria in our mouth love to feed on bits of sugar and starch. When this harmful bacteria interacts with sugar, it turns into acid. That acid can eat away at the tooth enamel, leaving behind the little holes you know as cavities. If left untreated, this tooth decay progresses deeper and deeper into the tooth, and eventually may cause pain or even tooth loss.

Importance of Baby Teeth

You may wonder why a cavity or tooth loss really matters when your child is just going to lose their baby teeth eventually anyways. Aside from avoiding the potential tooth pain that can come with both situations, baby teeth help guide permanent teeth into place. That’s one reason we want to make sure they fulfill that role before we say goodbye to them. Otherwise, it can cause more serious teeth misalignment issues in the future.

Healthier Alternatives

With the right nutrition swaps, you can decrease your child’s chance of developing cavities and other dental conditions. For example, drinks like soda, juice, and energy drinks happen to be full of sugar. Swapping those for water can help keep your little one’s smile healthier. In terms of snacks, fresh fruit, vegetables, and calcium-rich cheese are great swaps for candy and chips. These little moments of consuming less sugar can really add up when it comes to taking care of your child’s dental health.

Cavity Prevention at Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

If you’re looking for more tips related to your child’s dental care, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Tots to Teens. At our Lytle dental practice, we provide a full suite of pediatric dental services. Regular cleanings and exams, fluoride treatments and sealants also provide excellent cavity prevention. Our compassionate, experienced team is happy to answer any questions you might have. We look forward to seeing you when it’s time to bring your little one in for their dental appointment.

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Categorised in: Cavity Prevention, Kids Dental Care, Preventive Dental Care