Recent studies have discovered that preschool age children are getting more instead of fewer cavities. A similar increase has been noticed among teens and young adults. What makes these two groups so vulnerable?
Parents have come to realize that the so called “sports drinks” that have become so popular among the younger set aren’t really as healthy as we have been lead to believe by the advertisements. As long as your teenager was living at home you had at least some say over his dietary habits but once you sent him off to college any influence you might have wielded went away. It’s hard to resist the availability of energy drinks and sodas that is so prevalent on college campuses. Try including some bottled water in the next care package you put together, just make sure it is the fluoridated variety.
Obviously parents have more control over the foods that their toddlers consume. The problem is that there is such a wide variety on the market today. Take the cereal aisle in your local supermarket. The packaging is designed to attract your child’s attention and make him want to try the product. It would take too much time to read every label to check for vitamin content and the amount of sugar that has been added to the ingredients. A better idea may be to do your research before you get to the store. Try adding a favorite fruit to a healthy cereal to make it a little more appealing to your child.
Everybody enjoys a treat now and then. The trick is for parents to know how and when to give their ok. The kind of candy that you let your kids eat makes a difference in the way it will affect his teeth. Sticky, gooey candy tends to get between the teeth and may be hard to remove by simply rinsing. The longer it stays there the higher the risk for a cavity to start to develop.
Dr. Patterson of Epic Dentistry for Kids in Aurora is a parent as well as a professional and may offer his own suggestions for healthier snack choices. Browse the website then call the office @ (720) 721-3600.
