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Have you ever noticed how much chocolates or candies your kids eat every day or in a year? Not sure? According to a study conducted by the USDA Economic Research Service, kids who are under 12 years of age eat an average of 49 pounds of sugar in a year. This amount of sugar is more than enough to damage your kid’s teeth from the roots. More to add, just chocolates and candies are not the only source of sugar, but the impacts of other sugary foods such as cake and pastries also add fuel to fire. According to the dentist in Falls Church – Dr. Sonu Kakar, here’s what you need to know about the chocolates and why it is a big threat to your kid’s oral health.

The Impact of Sugar on Teeth

The high sugar content in candies and chocolates is the main culprit. The excess of sugar leads to tooth decay and other types of dental problems. There are certain types of bacteria present in the mouth that feeds on sugar. These bacteria convert sugar into acid, which further damages the tooth enamel. Once the tooth enamel is damaged, the risk of tooth decay increases to a greater extent.

Your mouth can neutralize acids that can damage the tooth enamel and produce minerals that can strengthen tooth enamel, but only when the sugary food is consumed in a limited amount. Your mouth can counter the damaging element only if you limit your sugar intake and maintain a regular oral care routine.

Watch Out for Sticky, Sugary Candies

Not all the candies and chocolates are made equal, but one thing is for sure, all of them can damage your kids’ teeth and gums. For a general rule of thumb, the stickier the chocolate, the worse it is for your teeth and oral health. Sticky chocolates and candies leave a sugary residue on the teeth even when you are done eating them. These sugary residues present on the teeth help bacteria present in the mouth to produce acid and start demineralizing tooth enamel. Thus, if you are giving your kids some chocolates or candies, watch out for sticky candies like gum drops and taffy.

Along with sticky chocolates and candies, lollipops and suckers are also troublesome because they are in the mouth for an extended period of time. When these sugary products stay in the mouth for an extended period of time, they offer more time to bacteria to get to work by weakening your teeth. Moreover, eating hard products such as lollipops can also chip or crack a tooth when you bite too hard.

Steps for Preventing Decay

According to the pediatric dentist in Falls Church, you are the first guide and teacher of your kids, and you can help them differentiate between the good and the bad habits. You can make your kids understand the adverse effect of eating an excess of sugary chocolates and candies and how it can pose a threat to their oral health.

According to Dr. Kakar, a pediatric dentist in Falls Church, VA, you can protect your child’s teeth by limiting their candy and chocolate intake. In some instances, this can be tricky and even out of your control when your child is at school or a friend’s house. To combat this, you need to teach good oral care habits to your kids. Being a parent, you need to make sure that your kids are properly brushing their teeth (at least for two minutes) twice a day. To motivate them for brushing, you can allow them to choose a fun toothbrush and toothpaste flavor.

You can help your child by limiting their candy and sugar intake. In some instances, this can be tricky and even out of your control when your child is at school or a friend’s house. What you can do is teach good oral hygiene habits to your child. Make sure they are brushing for two minutes twice each day. You can make brushing fun. Sing a song together for the two minutes, and allow them to choose a fun toothbrush and toothpaste flavor.

Candy is a fun treat. You don’t have to take it away from your child altogether, but limit their exposure to such treats and educate them about the impacts candy can have on their teeth. Along with the good habits, one more thing you can do for the well-being of your kid’s oral health is to take your child to an experienced dentist like Dr. Sonu Kakar in Falls Church. Routine dental check-ups and pediatric dental cleaning by a dentist in Falls Church can keep your kids’ teeth and oral health in good condition.

If you haven’t already scheduled your child’s next appointment with the dentist in Falls Church, VA, please contact our dental office at 703-534-1611 or visit our dental office in Falls Church at 7115 Leesburg Pike Ste 210, Falls Church, VA 22043.

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