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Just
for Kids
What You Should Know About Soda Pop And Your Children's
Teeth:
In the past, soft drinks were considered a special treat.
Recently, however sodas are becoming a regular part of our
children's diets with many kids consuming several pops each
day. While parents can appreciate the convenience of these
drinks, they must be aware of the risks that these beverage
present.
It is not news that high sugar diets can lead to dental cavities.
The fact that soft drinks contain up to 11 teaspoons of sugar
in a regular can should be enough to discourage parents from
giving children too much pop. But sugar is just a part of
the problem. Virtually all soft drinks contain phosphoric
acid that actually eats away at the enamel layer that protects
each tooth. Continued exposure to the high acid levels in
both regular and diet soft drinks can cause the enamel to
virtually disintegrate.
While it is unlikely that you will ever be able to totally
eliminate soft drinks from your children's diet, you can take
steps to reduce their consumption by keeping only healthy
drinks like water and low fat milk in your refrigerator. Be
careful about switching your children to store bought fruit
juices - they can contain as much sugar and acid as some soft
drinks.
Tips on how to help your kids enjoy good dental health
habits:
There is nothing more beautiful than a child's smile. But,
that smile needs your help. Good oral hygiene is not an accident.
Your child will likely need your guidance in brushing and
flossing well into the grade school years before he is able
to do a decent job on his own. There is, of course, no set
age at which a child should take over brushing and flossing.
This basically depends on the maturity level of the child
and how well they can handle the brush and floss.
If you find flossing your child's teeth awkward, try having
your child lie down. Put your child on your lap or on the
floor, keeping his head steady with your legs. Or, you can
try having your child stand with his back to you with their
head tilted slightly and resting against your body. Have your
child hold a mirror, so he can see what is going on.
Watch your child brush or examine their mouths after brushing
to see how well they are removing the plaque. An excellent
aid in detecting plaque removal is a disclosing tablet (These
are available in the oral hygiene section of most drug stores).
Teach your child to spend at least two minutes cleaning his
teeth. You might want to try using an egg timer. It works
well and it can make brushing more fun! If you prefer, it's
fine for a child to switch to a power brush - as long as it's
used as meticulously as the manual one.
If an offbeat flavour, like bubble gum, encourages brushing,
go with it. Sweet toothpaste that are made especially for
kids won't turn a child into a sugar friend.
As for toothbrushes, pick any soft-bristled one that's small
enough to fit pint-sized hands and mouths. Brushes with oddly
shaped bristles or angled or flexible heads may not clean
better than traditional ones, but kid-friendly styles and
colours may entice them to brush.
As children do learn by example, be sure to do your own brushing
and flossing in front of your child. Attitudes and habits
established at an early age are critical in maintaining good
oral health throughout life.
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