6 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Child’s Sugary Snacking
“Sugar is fun to eat, but not good for your teeth!” – Dr. Mary Hayes
Sugar is the “food” for the bacteria that causes tooth decay, so limiting the amount of sugar you eat is not only good for your teeth, but key to your overall health.
Here are a few tips to start saying good-bye to unnecessary sugar throughout the day.
Know the Limits
When choosing a snack, keep an eye on added sugar. Naturally occurring sugars are less worrisome, as they are found in healthy choices such as milk and fruit.
When reading labels, you’ll see sugar is listed in grams. Since 1 tsp. of sugar equals 4 grams, aim to make sure the foods you are feeding your child fall between 12 to 50 grams a day.
The Truth About Juice
Because juice is high in sugar and calories, water and milk are always the best options for your little one. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests completely removing juice from the diet of children under 1 year of age.
Allowing your child to sip on juice throughout the day puts him or her at higher risk for tooth decay, which can also happen when the juice is watered down.
Limit the juice your children drink, and always offer water or milk first. If your child does drink juice, serve the recommended, age-appropriate limits at mealtimes only. When your family is done eating, clean up any leftover juice instead of letting your children leave the table with it.
Skip the Soda
Sugary, carbonated beverages can be bad news for your child’s teeth. A study in the Journal of the American Dental Association found a strong association between sugary drinks and poor dental health in teenagers. Nearly 32% had tooth erosion, which means their enamel had been eaten away. The main culprit? Soda.
Be Picky About Sticky Snacks
Many parents are surprised to learn the gummy or sticky fruit snacks are closer to candy than fruit and are not the healthy alternative they thought. In some respects, this quick snack is worse than candy as it sticks to the teeth longer than things like milk chocolate, which is easier to wash away.
Serve Carbs with Care
Whether it’s the crunch or the fact that they’re shaped like their favorite animals, kids love crackers and chips. The truth? Many crackers are cookies with salt. Not only do the carbohydrates in things like crackers and chips break down into sugar, they also tend to get stuck in the tops of your teeth for long periods of times.
Set an Example
Setting an example can make a big difference in your whole family’s health. Eat well, brush twice a day and clean between your teeth. If you want to change your child’s habits, do the same with them.
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