Four Simple Ways to Reduce Your Child’s Sugar Intake

While some children may love the taste of sugary snacks, sugar can wreak havoc on their dental health. Sugar helps stimulate the formation of plaque — a thin film of sticky bacteria that covers teeth. If not removed, plaque can cause cavities, deteriorate tooth enamel, and eventually lead to tooth decay. The more sugar a child consumes, the greater his/her risk for developing these oral health issues.

The best way for children to protect their teeth from plaque is to limit their intake of sugar, while maintaining a well-balanced diet. Though almost all foods contain some form of sugar, high levels are most prominently found in soft drinks, fruit juices, cakes, cookies, candy, puddings and other processed foods and drinks. Read on for some simple ways to reduce your child’s intake of sugar from the Dentistry for Children in Jonesboro.

1. Limit Sugary Drinks. You may be surprised to hear that even fruit juices labeled as 100% fruit juice contain high levels of sugar. Along with fruit juices, sports drinks, sodas, fruit punch, lemonade and sweetened iced teas are full of sugar. Swap out these sugary drinks for a piece of whole fruit, water or milk. To ween your child off juices and lemonades, start by significantly watering them down.

2. Read Food Labels. Don’t let marketing gimmicks fool you into thinking something’s healthy when it’s not. Be sure to always read the food labels. Even similar brands and products can have very different levels of sugar, such as yogurts, cereals, breakfast bars, and instant oatmeal.

3. Cook at Home More Often. Though some restaurants display the nutritional information of their foods, many still do not. When you dine out, you don’t really understand how much sugar — and salt and fat — is in the foods your child is eating. When you cook at home, you can control the ingredients you use and ensure you are feeding your child something healthy.

4. Plan Snacks Ahead of Time. When you’re out with your children, pack healthy snacks in case they get hungry. If you don’t pack snacks, it can be very tempting to grab a candy bar from a vending machine or run to a nearby fast food joint. Great snacks to pack include fruits, carrots and nuts.

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your child’s sugar consumption and promote a healthy smile and lifestyle.