Sucrose (sugar) is the food for the bacteria that is in the plaque that casues tooth decay. Bacteria then produces acid that etches away the teeth.
When choosing a snack, watch out for the "added sugars" such as corn syrup or white sugar. Naturally occurring sugars are less worrisome, as they are found in healthy choices like milk and fruit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that people age 3 and older should consume no more than 12.5 teaspoons each day of added sugar. (about the amount in one can of soda) When reading labels, you'll see sugar is listed in grams. Since 1 teaspoon of sugar equal 4 grams, aim to make sure the foods you are feeding your child fall between 12 to 50 grams a day.
Because juice is high in sugar and calories, water and milk are always the best options for your child. If your child is under 1 years old, the American Acadmy of Pediatrics suggests completely rmoving juice from their diet. Older children can occasionally drink juice, but if they do there are two things to remember: 1) children ages 1-6 should have no more than 4-6 oz. per day. Children ages 7-18 should drink no more than 8-12 oz. per day. Many juice boxes are about 6 oz, so younger children should have no more than one per day. 2) allowing your child to sip on juice thoughout the day puts them at higher risk for tooth decay because you are giving that cavity-causing bacteria more opportunities to eat and produce the acid that eats away at teeth.
Sugary, carbonated beverages (soda, pop) are bad for your child's teeth. "One can of soda is the amount of sugar recommended for three days for a child." (Dr. Hayes) A study in 2016 found a strong association between sugary drinks and poor dental health in teenagers.
Gummy and sticky fruit snacks are not healthy alternative snacks. They are very close to candy when it comes to sugar. "Fruit rolluips and other dried fruit snacks are like nature's candy," Dr. Shenkin says. It actually could be worse because it sticks to teeth longer than things like milk chocolate candy which is easier to wash away. Raisins are one of the worst foods because they are so sticky and they actually adhere to teeth and stay there for an extedned amount of time. During that time time, the sugar in the raisins are being consumed by the bacteria in the plaque and producing acid which causes cavities.
It is important to serve carbs with care. Children seem to love crackers and chips. Dr. Hayes says, "many crackers are cookies with salt." Not only do the carbohydrates in things like crackers and chips break down into sugar, they also tend to get stuck in the tops of your teeeth for long periods of time.
Set an example. If you want to change your child's habits, it isn't just about what they do....do the same thing with them!