It’s a well known fact that excessive sugar can pose a serious health risk because of its high caloric content, but did you know that dentists are now discovering that high sugar diets can lead to significant tooth decay in children?
The Center For Disease Control and Prevention states that around 42% of children ages 2 to 11 have cavities in their baby teeth and 21% of children ages 6 to 11 have cavities in their permanent teeth. Because tooth decay might be so significant for some young children, these children oftentimes have to undergo general anesthesia because a simple dentist procedure would be too painful without it.
What kind of products are leading to such a significantly high percentage of tooth decay in children? Well in the Appalachia region of the United States, the popular soda drink Mountain Dew has resulted in so much tooth decay in children that its been labeled Mountain Dew Mouth. The problem isn’t just sugary drinks though. Dentists oftentimes recommend to parents that their children stay away from food that’s high in sugar, but many of the sugar-free food alternatives out there aren’t any better….
A mother in New Zealand was horrified when she found out what filling her child’s sippy cup with soda had done to her child’s teeth. Because of significant tooth decay, the child’s dentist, Dr. Robert Beaglehole, had to extract eleven of his teeth.
It’s not the first time Dr. Beaglehole has seen this problem. Over the past year, he’s extracted over 60 teeth from 4 different children. As a result, Dr. Beaglehole and the New Zealand Dental Association have posted a country-wide recommendation that parents give their children only milk and water. As you’re soon about to hear though, this problem doesn’t just exist in New Zealand.
The Vermont Dentistry in the United States stated,
“Sugar laden soft drinks and snacks are available for consumption everywhere that children gather. Schools allow the presence of commercial candy and pop vending machines, as do after school activity venues, and many middle and upper class homes keep a handy supply in their refrigerators and cupboards to satisfy their child’s sweet tooth.”
What do dental health experts recommend to combat tooth decay? Routine dental check-ups, daily tooth brushing, and regular flossing. Although some people might suggest sugar-free foods, you’ll find out in the video below that just because something is sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s necessarily healthy for you…
What did you think? Did you know about the dangers of sugary foods and its sugar-free alternatives? We want to hear your thoughts. Let us know in the comments below!
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