February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, but if you think that’s just another excuse to nag your offspring about avoiding sweets and brushing their teeth, you might just be in for a “brush off.” Did you know that sugary snacks and beverages aren’t the only foods that can cause cavities? Or that poor dental health can lead to social and scholastic problems? Read on!
What Foods and Beverages to Avoid
You’re probably already aware that serving foods and beverages with added sugars to children under 2 years old is not a good idea and that children’s intake of added sugars should be limited as they grow older and start eating a wider variety of foods. However, sweets aren’t the only foods that can increase the risk for cavities, also known as dental caries or tooth decay. When carbohydrates stay in the mouth for too long, they interact with plaque and produce acid, which can lead to tooth decay.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website, EatRight.org, some foods that we should be mindful of, because they stay in the mouth longer, include:
- Sugary beverages such as sodas, fruit drinks, sports and energy drinks, and sweetened teas and coffee, especially if sipped over a long period of time.
- Any foods that stick to the teeth, like caramels, dried fruit or chips.
- Lollipops and other hard candies that dissolve slowly in the mouth.
Drinking water with food – and after a meal – helps get rid of bacteria and reduces acid production. And if your home has fluoridated water, you’re getting extra protection. Fluoride is a mineral that helps resist tooth decay.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these simple steps for protecting and maintaining your child’s dental health:
P.E.A.R.L.S. of Wisdom
- Protect tiny teeth by caring for your own mouth when you’re pregnant. Your child’s future oral health starts with you.
- Ensure to wipe your baby’s gums after each meal.
- Avoid putting babies to bed with a bottle.
- Remember to brush your child’s teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. For children younger than 2 years old, consult with your dentist or doctor about when to start using fluoride toothpaste.
- Limit drinks and food with added sugars for children. Encourage your child to eat more fruits and vegetables and have fewer fruit drinks, cookies and candies. This gives your child the best possible start to good oral health.
- Schedule your child’s first dental visit by their first birthday or after their first tooth appears. Their tiny teeth matter!
Dental Problems Linked to Other Issues
Cavities, or caries, are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, yet cavities are preventable. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.
In a study reported recently in The Journal of Pediatrics, children with dental problems were found to be more likely to have problems at school and to miss school and less likely to do all required homework.
Dental problems were significantly associated with reductions in school performance and psychosocial well-being – as well as shyness, unhappiness, feelings of worthlessness and reduced friendliness. The effects of dental problems on unhappiness and feelings of worthlessness were largest for adolescents between 15 and 17 years old. The study concluded that preventing and treating dental problems and improving dental health may benefit child academic achievement and cognitive and psychosocial development.
Dental health plays a key role in the overall health status and quality of life of both children and adults. It also may affect several domains of child development and growth. Good dental health enhances a child’s ability to develop several physical and social functions such as feeding, breathing, speaking, smiling and social adaptation.
Consequences of dental diseases in children may include pain, discomfort, embarrassment, challenged cognitive development, reduced self-esteem and impairments of daily life activities. Severe cavities in young children are associated with underweight, poor growth, irritability, higher risk of hospitalization, disturbed sleeping and diminished learning ability.
To read more about this study, visit the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine.
For more about National Children’s Dental Health Month, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s oral health website. And you can learn more about taking care of your youngsters’ teeth at these helpful links:
- Print out these fun dental-themed coloring sheets for your kids!
- Discover the best and worst foods for your teeth and how to limit your child’s sugar consumption – from our friends at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System.
Learn about dental care for toddlers in this helpful article from Yakima Valley Memorial hospital.
NOTE: Plans and benefit coverage for dental expenses may vary. Check your plan materials for coverage.