It’s no secret that many children love juice – and you might, too! But did you know that most fruit juices are high in sugar content and can actually pose a threat to your child’s dental health? Continue reading below to learn more about the dangers that fruit juices can pose to teeth, along with a few healthy alternatives that are sure to put a smile on your child’s face!
Kids Love Fruit Juice, but Teeth Don’t
Many parents give their children fruit juices because they assume they’re healthy – after all, they’re derived from fruit, which is an important source of vitamins and nutrients for growing children. Not to mention, many children love the various types of fruit juices out there: grape juice, apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice and many others are all quite popular and undeniably tasty.
However, many fruit juices have significant amounts of added sugars, and some even rival sodas when it comes to sugar content. That’s quite a lot of sugar for your child to consume, and needless to say, this can lead to weight gain as well as dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease. What’s worse is that children often sip their drinks throughout the day, meaning that if they’re drinking fruit juice, their teeth are coming into frequent contact with all of the sugary particles it contains.
Healthy Alternatives to Fruit Juice That Your Child Will Love
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has gone on record saying that children under 1 year of age should not consume any fruit juice at all, in order to prevent significant dental issues from developing early on. Overall, fruit juice doesn’t provide the same health benefits that whole fruit does, since it lacks the same amount of fiber. It also doesn’t need to be chewed like whole fruit does – and for their jaws to grow and remain strong, children require the stimulation that occurs from biting and chewing food.
Luckily, there are all kinds of healthy alternatives out there that are much better for children and their teeth. Consider these options in favor of fruit juice:
- Water: This is the absolute best beverage for oral health. Tap water is also often fluoridated, which only makes it more beneficial for teeth.
- Milk: Milk is a great source of calcium, which is integral for bone growth. Just be mindful of chocolate and flavored milk, which generally have high amounts of sugar.
- Whole fruit: Fruit in its natural form is another great option; it contains less sugar and more fiber.
If your child loves fruit juice, it’s okay to give them some as a treat every once in a while, rather than regularly – and you might even consider watering it down beforehand. In any case, knowing the potential harm it can cause to your little one’s smile can help you to ensure that their pearly whites remain healthy and radiant for the foreseeable future!
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has proudly served the dental needs of families in the Randolph, MA community for several years, and we’d be honored to assist you and your loved ones with achieving and maintaining radiantly healthy smiles! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment for your child, feel free to visit us online or call us today for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (781) 767-7200.