Children’s first teeth, often referred to as ‘milk teeth’, are as important as their permanent teeth. These teeth play an important role in creating the position for adult teeth, developing the jaw and face, and helping the progress of speech.
Unconsciously, mums transmit oral bacteria from their mouth to their bubs (via shared utensils etc). An infant’s mouth is not generally colonised with bacteria until teeth begin to erupt (around 4 months plus). It seems that the growth of bacteria is most likely a result of this sharing. To reduce bacterial growth in your baby’s mouth, avoid shared foods and utensils, don’t suck dummies, keep a close eye on oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly.
As children get older, they increasingly develop tooth decay. By the age of five, about 1% of children have tooth decay, while by 15 years this rises to over 50%. So, if we can establish good habits in diet and dental hygiene early on, these figures are sure to drop.
Commonly, tooth decay in children is a combination of a number of factors, including bacteria around the gums which is promoted by sugars, namely sucrose; eating habits and patterns; and dental care routines. The bacteria in our mouth prefer to use sucrose (common table sugar) over other forms of sugars. Such fermentable sugars are used to produce acid, enabling bacteria to stick to our teeth.
Soft Drink Consumption and Sugar Intake: In Australia, over the past decade, the intake of soft drinks has increased by around 30% (with 13 to 24 year olds being the biggest consumers of these products). Given the amount of sugar contained in these drinks (sometimes up to 9 teaspoons of sugar) this is a dietary trend that we should try to reverse.
A diet that is high in sugars can increase the risk of tooth decay. Both how often sugar is eaten and the length of time it is allowed to stay in contact with the teeth are major influences. Keep in mind that not all sugars are bad for teeth. Sugars found naturally in such foods as fruits and vegetables have little or no effect on tooth decay and offer many health benefits.
We know with certainty that fizzy drinks (and, to a lesser extent, some juices) cause tooth decay. Poor eating habits are also a potential problem, for example, not eating breakfast or eating too little fruit and vegetables.
Encourage your child to brush their teeth at least twice a day. It is also a good idea to brush after sugary foods or drinks e.g. after eating sweets. Keep in mind that good oral hygiene and regular check-ups are likely to overcome some of the negative effects of sugar on teeth.
An interesting recent finding is that cheese appears to have a protective effect against the processes of tooth decay. We can expect to see more information and support on this in the near future. In fact, some dental agencies in the United States suggest that children should eat a small piece of cheese after a sugary meal or snack when they are not able to brush their teeth.
Learn more about your child’s dental health.
This information has been provided by Leanne Cooper from Sneakys baby and child nutrition. Leanne is a qualified nutritionist and mother of two very active boys.
For more information see Kid’s nutrition or Baby Care
