If your child is like others, they enjoy drinking juice, sports drinks, or other fruity beverages. While many of these products promote “real fruit,” “no added sugars,” etc., many parents remain unaware of the hidden dangers these drinks can possess. If you are wondering whether the beverages you’re giving your child might be putting their smile at risk for cavities, here are a few ways you can tell.
What Makes Certain Kid-Friendly Drinks Bad?
Unless you read the label and can decipher some of the more confusing ingredients written on the side of your child’s juice box, you may not realize they can be harmful to your child’s oral health.
Many of the most popular sports drinks, flavored milks, and juice brands consist of high amounts of sugar and are highly acidic, making them a serious problem for tooth enamel. Too much sugar can lead to cavities and tooth decay, while excessive acidity can weaken enamel and cause sensitivity.
Which Beverages Should You Help Your Child Avoid?
The next time you’re grocery shopping, you may find it helpful to avoid or significantly limit the following drinks so that you can worry less about how they will affect your child’s growing smile:
- Juice Drinks: Whether it’s juice drinks or fresh juice your child is drinking, both can cause harm if consumed in excess. Juice drinks often have a higher sugar content, while natural juice (i.e., freshly squeezed oranges) can be acidic, eroding tooth enamel.
- Sports Drinks: If you want to hydrate your child, stick with regular water. Sports drinks may help restore electrolytes and hydration, but the truth is they are often highly acidic and sugary, both of which can lead to cavities.
- Flavored Milk & Similar Alternatives: Regular milk can be great for strengthening tooth enamel; however, those that are flavored (i.e., chocolate or strawberry) can contain sugars that eat away at the tooth enamel.
If you want a better alternative for your child to drink each day, you cannot go wrong with water, unsweetened soy, coconut, or almond milk, unsweetened fruit juice, and regular milk. Not only will these reduce the risk of cavities, but some of the ingredients in these options can help build healthier enamel and gum tissue.
Protect your child’s smile by limiting their consumption of these beverages or eliminating them altogether. Once you learn they have a cavity-free smile, you’ll be glad you did.
About the Author
Dr. Bryce Cushing is a Diplomate with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Leading the team at Surf’s Up Pediatric Dentistry, he offers tips to help patients and their children make good nutritional choices at home to minimize harmful bacteria. If you want to know whether the drinks and foods your child is eating may be putting their smile at risk, visit our website or call (402) 773-7873 to schedule an appointment.