How Beverages Affect Your Child's Teeth
Posted on: 1 October 2018
While small children may only have baby teeth in their mouth, they will eventually develop permanent teeth to replace the baby teeth. Caring for a child's teeth is important even when he or she has baby teeth. And did you know that the beverages you give your child can play a huge role in the health of his or her teeth? Here are several things you should know about beverages and your child's teeth.
Certain beverages are the worst
Most kids love drinking things that are sweet, such as fruit juice, pop, and sports drinks, but did you know that these are the worst types of beverages you can give a child? All of these drinks contain high levels of sugar, and sugar is something that is needed for cavities to form. When a cavity forms, it occurs when natural bacteria in a person's mouth consumes sugars the person consumes. The reaction to this is acid, and acid eats away teeth. Because of this, you should be very careful about giving your child drinks that are too sugary and sweet. A child who consumes a lot of these types of beverages has a high risk of developing cavities.
Water is the best beverage
The best drink you could give a child is water. Water is a necessary beverage for the body, and it is also completely pure. It does not contain sugar or anything else that is bad for the teeth. When your child drinks water, it will replenish the fluid in the child's body, and it will help clean the child's teeth as the water flows through his or her mouth.
Milk is important too
Milk is another beverage you could give your child, and it too is also good for your child's teeth. Milk is loaded with calcium, which is a mineral that strengthens bones and teeth, and children need a lot of calcium while they are growing.
Another key benefit of milk is it contains caseins, which are proteins. When a child drinks milk, these proteins create a layer of protection on the child's teeth. This layer of protection coats the teeth and actually stops acid from eating away at the teeth.
If you want your child to have strong teeth that are cavity-free, you should use caution when it comes to the beverages you give him or her. A dentist can help you learn more about protecting your child's teeth through the right diet and daily oral care routine.
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