One day, in the clinic, an anxious mother came to me with her seven-year-old child. Several black spots appeared on her child's teeth, which the dentist confirmed were decaying. She asked me, puzzled, "Doctor, I never let him eat candy and sweets, how can he still get tooth decay?" This question not only bothered her, but also many parents. We often think that as long as we avoid sweets and overt sweets, our child's teeth will be safe. But the reality is much more complicated than that.
Causes of tooth decay: It's not just sugar
When we talk about tooth decay in children, most people naturally blame sugar intake as the cause. However, the formation of dental caries is a complex process that involves a variety of factors.
Bacteria and the acidic environment: the mastermind of dental caries
Bacterial action: Bacteria in the mouth are a key factor in the formation of dental caries. These bacteria produce acids by breaking down carbohydrates (not just sugars) in food scraps.
Acidic environment: These acids can gradually erode the enamel on the surface of the teeth, forming cavities, known as tooth decay. Prolonged acidic environments pose a threat to the health of your teeth.
Nutrition and lifestyle habits: There are many influencing factors
Unbalanced nutrition: Lack of adequate minerals and vitamins, especially calcium and vitamin D, can weaken the resistance of your teeth to acids.
Lifestyle habits: Poor eating habits, such as frequent consumption of high-carbohydrate foods and incorrect brushing techniques, can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Oral hygiene: important but often overlooked
Incomplete cleaning: Even if you don't eat sugar, food debris can still become a breeding ground for bacteria if you don't pay attention to cleaning your mouth in a timely manner.
Lack of regular check-ups: Regular dental check-ups can detect and treat potential oral problems early and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Stealth Candy's Sneak Attack: A Hidden Threat in Everyday Food
1. Sugar in processed foods
Many processed foods, even if they don't seem sweet, contain added sugars. For example, some common children's breakfast cereals, flavored yogurts, fruit drinks, and even ketchup may contain high amounts of added sugar. The packaging of these foods is often labeled with words such as "no added sugar" or "low sugar", but in fact sugar is added in the form of sucrose, fructose syrup, corn syrup, etc.
2. Identification of invisible sugars
To identify hidden sugars in food, parents need to learn to read food labels. In addition to ingredients that are directly labeled as "sugar", sugar may appear on food labels by a variety of names, such as glucose, fructose, maltose, syrups, etc. Even if some foods are claimed to be healthy, they may contain these hidden sugars.
3. Natural Sugars vs. Added Sugars
Differentiating between natural and added sugars is key. Natural sugars are mainly found in fruits and some vegetables and have less impact on children's health than added sugars. Added sugar, on the other hand, is the sugar added during food processing, and this part of the sugar is the focus of our vigilance.
4. Learn about healthy alternatives
To reduce their child's sugar intake, parents can opt for healthier alternatives. For example, replace sugary canned fruit with fresh fruit, or opt for drinks and snacks with no added sugar. Homemade food is also a good option, as it gives complete control over the sugar content of the food.
"Invisible Candy" Revealed: The Secret to Protecting Your Child's Teeth
Strategies for identifying invisible sugars
Learn to read food labels: Careful review of food labels is the first step in identifying hidden sugars in processed foods. It is not only the word "sugar" that needs to be noted, but also various forms of sugar such as glucose, fructose, syrup, honey, etc.
Learn about common sources of hidden sugars: Some seemingly healthy foods, such as juices, low-fat yogurts, sauces, and even some foods labeled as "sugar-free," may actually contain high amounts of sugar.
Educate your child about healthy eating: Communicate with your child about what healthy food choices are, help them understand food labels, and develop healthy eating habits from an early age.
A practical way to avoid invisible sugars
Choose whole foods: Encourage unprocessed or minimally processed foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, rather than processed juices or canned foods.
Create a healthy family eating plan: Reduce the proportion of processed foods in your family diet and adopt homemade low- or sugar-free food alternatives.
Develop good eating habits: Establish a habit of eating regularly in your home and avoid excessive snacking time, especially sugary snacks.