Many dentists today, particularly those that specialise in children’s dentistry, have taken note of a disturbing trend. Children as young as two years of age have been presenting them with cavities in their baby teeth, requiring fillings, at a steadily increasing rate.
It has been postulated that this issue is due to the increase in the use of sugar as an additive in a number of foods. Often used to cover the inherent tartness of some flavours, sugar is a primary cause of dental problems, as it encourages bacteria in the mouth to create acids, which can eat their way through the tough enamel of your pearly whites.
Sugar has been added to foods for years now, but is especially common today, and often in foods that you wouldn’t ordinarily expect – such as fruit juices, breads, and granola bars, which often are found in your child’s lunchbox. Part of the reason for this trend could be manufacturers taking advantage of the mildly addictive quality of the substance, but either way, children are now eating considerably more than their forebears did.
Solving this problem falls upon the parent. We must be highly vigilant about what our children are eating, and encourage a more balanced diet across the board, as our teeth are not the only thing that suffers when a diet is heavy in sugar – it can encourage diabetes, obesity, and behavioural problems as well. Keep an eye on those labels, and make sure that you encourage good habits among the next generation. If in doubt, pay your local experts at Hills Dental Care a visit.