It’s no secret that kids love sweets. As a parent, you probably spend a lot of time negotiating with your child about just how much sugar they can have.
The things your child drinks can make that calculus a little more complicated. One study found that sweetened drinks accounted for 62% of children’s drink sales over the course of a year. As a result, you may be giving your child something that could decay their teeth without realizing it. Here’s a guide to which drinks could be harming your child’s teeth, and which ones are likely to be better for them.
What Drinks Are Bad for Your Child’s Teeth?
As much as children like sweets, letting them have unrestricted access to sugary drinks can cause serious damage to children’s teeth. Of course, soda is the worst culprit; not only is it packed with sugar, but it tends to also be acidic, which can further contribute to tooth decay.
That said, some fruit juice can be just as bad. 100% real fruit juice without any added sugars is usually fine, but most of the common fruit juices aren’t like that. Juice from concentrate is often just as acidic as soda and packed with as much sugar. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you don’t give any juice at all to children less than one for this reason.
What Drinks are Good for Children’s Teeth?
As you might guess, water is the best beverage for children’s teeth, and for their health in general. Not only is it low in sugar, but tap water usually contains fluoride, which can help strengthen your child’s enamel.
Milk is also a good option. It’s full of calcium and phosphates, both of which are vital to tooth health. Moreover, dairy products can increase the production of saliva, which can wash away foods that have become lodged in the teeth. Finally, if your child is a fan of something bitter, unsweetened tea can be a great, nutritious drink.
In the end, any of these drinks are fine in moderation. Just make sure that your child isn’t going crazy with sweets, and that they’re thorough with their dental hygiene.
About Our Practice
Getting your child to the dentist can be stressful, and we at The Dental Specialists – Pediatric Dentistry understand that. That’s why we work hard to put your child at ease while we offer them the highest quality pediatric dentistry that you’ll find anywhere. No matter what kind of care your child needs, we’ll do what we can to help you.
If you have any questions about what kinds of drinks can potentially be damaging to your child’s teeth, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (972) 364-7472.