5 Treats which are bad for Your Child’s Teeth

Sweets are bad for our teeth because they promote bacteria and lead to decay. This is basic knowledge, so we always try to give our kids fewer sweets and more healthy snacks. But the term healthy can easily hide a dangerous trap. What we believe to be healthy for our kids can be a danger for their teeth, even if it brings them other health benefits. Hidden sugar, high acidity, and sticky textures can all damage your child’s smile.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C, which is a natural immunity booster, so it makes a healthy snack for your child, right? Not really! Oranges, mandarins, and clementines are highly acidic foods, so they attack tooth enamel. Dentists from 505 Dental Associates clinic do recognize the benefits of these fruits on children’s health, but advice on teaching the child not to brush right after eating citrus. Instead, wait for at least 30 minutes before cleaning your teeth, to avoid removing the softened enamel. Also, discourage your child from sucking citrus wedges, as prolonged contact between the acidic fruit and teeth worsens the situation.

Pickles

Kids might love to eat pickles, but they are also acidic, like citrus fruits. This means they attack the child’s teeth just as bad, weakening the enamel and leading to the loss of teeth. The vinegar used in most pickles recipes erodes the enamel, but you can ease the problem by encouraging the child to eat the pickles in a sandwich. Another thing you can do is to look for pickles made with salt and water alone, which are less dangerous.

Popcorn

Popcorn is a children’s favorite and it’s a pretty healthy snack. Made from whole grain corn, rich in fiber and antioxidants, what can be bad in popcorn? According to dentists, it can get stuck under the gums, leading to infections. To protect your child from this problem, teach them to floss after eating popcorn. Another common issue with popcorn is breathing teeth in a kernel, which is seen quite often by pediatric dentists.

Chips and crackers

Kids love chips, as well as crackers, but they can also become dangerous for their teeth. While they don’t contain sugar, they do contain starch, which turns into sugar. Another problem is they tend to get stuck between teeth and underneath the gums, just like popcorn. This can promote bacteria and plaque, leading to cavities and loss of teeth. To protect your child’s teeth you can teach them to brush and floss after eating chips. You might want to assist them, as starchy snacks are hard to remove from teeth.

Gummy fruit snacks and supplements

Gummy snacks are usually made with fruit juice, so they are seen as healthy. Moreover, many vitamins are produced in gummy form, which adds to this belief. The reality is there is sugar in gummy snacks, even in the multivitamins. They are also sticky, so they make a sticky, sugary deposit on your child’s teeth, which attacks the enamel, leading to cavities.