What Is Your Child Drinking?

When you are looking into pediatric dental services, you may have questions about the foods and beverages that are safe for your child’s teeth. By clarifying the impact of water, juice, or milk on a child’s teeth, you are able to take measures to ensure that your children’s teeth are healthy. Read on to see some of the best and worst liquids for your child’s teeth and their impacts on their oral health. 

Water

As a general rule, our pediatric dentist recommends fluoridated water to children throughout the day. Water plays a critical role in keeping a child’s teeth and gums healthy, as well as the rest of their body.  Water is ideally pH 7 neutral, which means no acidity and this is fantastic. It ensures proper hydration and has no negative impact on your child’s teeth. In fact, it also helps to naturally wash away food particles and debris that can get stuck between the teeth, and the fluoride adds the shield. Thankfully, the City of Melbourne and the City of Cocoa have fluoridated water.  

Milk

Milk is recommended for a child’s growth and development and the second most recommended drink by Sunshine Smiles.  Milk’s pH level is close to neutral at 6.7 which is wonderful. But it may contribute to tooth decay in young children because it has Calcium and sugars. First, never drink milk after brushing your teeth at night. Second, too much milk throughout the day—instead of water—may cause Calcium deposits to appear on teeth if too much is consumed, leaving white stains visible on a smile. And third, do not drink chocolate milk, it has way more sugar than regular milk.  And for all those lactose allergies, beware of the high quantities of sugar content in soy, almond, and lactose-free milks.

Juice

Juice is not safe for a child’s teeth due to the high levels of sugar in the beverage. A common cause of tooth decay in infants and children is sugar from juice and beverages with similar sugar content—soda, sports, and energy drinks. When teamed with acid, these high-sugar beverages have a detrimental impact on a child’s teeth. This is because the sugar coats your child’s teeth in a thin layer or plaque, and combined with the acid and the bacteria in your mouth, it can wear down their enamel faster, especially if they drink juice throughout the day without brushing their teeth. 

Preventing Tooth Decay

Simple solution:  Drink water and milk and don’t buy the other ones.  Although many factors contribute to tooth decay in infants and young children, parents can reduce the risk by taking measures to maintain a child’s oral hygiene at a young age. Wipe a baby’s gums gently with gauze or similar material before the teeth begin coming in to remove excess sugar from formula or milk. Gently brush a child’s teeth without toothpaste when the first tooth comes in. If you think these liquids mentioned above are making a negative impact on your child’s oral health, be sure to contact us today to see how we can help!