Cavities in Children: Watch Out For Hidden Sugar

Family Dentist Burlington Cavities in Children

Every health-conscious parent knows that sugar is the number one cause of cavities in children. Sugar is bad for smiles of all ages, so it’s best to avoid large amounts of it. Because of cavity risks, low nutritional value, and high-calorie content, many parents want to limit the sugar in their children’s diets. Obviously, there is a lot of sugar in bubble gum, lollipops, and gummy candy, but did you know there is also sugar lurking in so-called ‘healthy’ snacks.

Preventing Cavities in Children

The following snacks may have more sugar than you think:

  • Yogurt covered raisins
  • Fruit snacks including the roll-up and syrup-filled varieties
  • Rice cakes
  • Many brands of yogurt
  • Juice drinks
  • Flavored milk
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Fruit smoothies
  • Cereal bars

For the sake of your child’s dental health, it might be worth reconsidering these snacks when packing their lunch for the day. Controlling sugar intake in your child’s diet is essential for lifelong oral health and can prevent cavities in children. When choosing lunchbox or after-school snacks, always read the labels and see what’s in the food you’re feeding your child. Also, remember that sugar content varies among brands, so don’t think that because one snack is healthy, that snack from a different company is also healthy.

Sugar is not the only thing to watch out for. If your child’s diet is lacking key vitamins and minerals, the tissues in their mouth may have trouble fighting infection. These infections can lead to gum disease, so have a dental checkup before it’s too late.

Schedule an Appointment

At Pediatric Dental Center, we provide high-quality dentistry to families in the Kentucky communities of Burlington, Crestview Hills, and Carrollton. The team at Pediatric Dental Center pampers our youngest patients. We offer services such as tooth extractions and sedation dentistry. If you have a toddler who has not visited a dentist, call us today to schedule a first-time dental check-up.

Contact Pediatric Dental Center:

859-534-5640

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

5495 N Bend Rd Ste 102
Burlington, Kentucky
41005