A snack is an important part of any child’s day; It keeps them energized for a long day of learning and playtime. If you ask your pediatrician or pediatric dentist, the quality of the snack matters to your child’s health. Many snacks that lack nutritional value can also be damaging to your child’s teeth. Here are five to avoid or offer in moderation.

5 Snacks Your Pediatric Dentist Recommends You Avoid

1. Juice

Fruit juice contains sugar, which is a leading contributor to tooth decay. When your children drink juice, it washes over their teeth, exposing every nook and cranny to bacteria-causing sugar. Acidic beverages like orange juice are even worse because acid can wear away the protective enamel.

2. Fruit Snacks & Gummies

Not only are these packed with sugar, but they are also sticky and hang onto teeth until the next brushing. If you or your child doesn’t brush thoroughly, particles from gummy snacks can remain in the grooves of the teeth.

3. Potato Chips

Chips are a high-carbohydrate food that breaks down as sugar. This starchy food can also easily become trapped between your teeth, and only regular flossing will remove it. Even a single day with a starchy food embedded in your teeth can begin the process of tooth decay.

4. Soda

If your pediatric dentist could tell you to avoid one food forever, soda would probably be their first choice. Acid, sugar, and carbonation are all harmful to tooth enamel, and the caffeine dries out your mouth — another contributor to tooth decay, as there is less saliva to wash away bacteria.

5. Hard Candy

The high-sugar content in hard candy is bad for your teeth, but even low-sugar or sugar-free hard candy is harmful if your child bites on it. Hard candy can easily chip teeth!

Ask your child’s pediatric dentist to help you reinforce the harm that these foods can do to their teeth. By encouraging good habits today, you will lay the foundation for a lifetime of good dental health for your child well into adulthood.  

At Pedodontic Associates, on Oahu and Maui, HI, you’ll find the best pediatric dentists in the region. Your child won’t just tolerate the dentist — they’ll look forward it. Gentle care in a warm, friendly atmosphere are the hallmarks of this practice alongside an emphasis on quality treatment and preventative care for a lifetime of good oral health. To schedule an appointment, call the Aiea location at (808) 487-7933, Honolulu at (808) 735-1733, or Kahului at (808) 877-0066. You can also request an appointment at any location online today.