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The diet of young children has a significant impact on their long-term health, especially their oral health. Around six months, children's diets drastically change as they start eating solid foods. Many toddlers regularly eat fruits and vegetables, according to surveys, but a sizable percentage also regularly eat high-sugar foods like candy and desserts every day. The risk of caries varies among these foods, with sugary snacks being more likely to cause cavities than whole foods or unprocessed starches. Early dietary practices may also have an impact on the oral microbiota's makeup, which is thought to have an impact on the development of caries. Although earlier studies have demonstrated that consuming large amounts of sugary snacks, drinks, or fermentable carbohydrates raises the risk of dental cavities by encouraging the growth of cariogenic (cavity-causing) bacteria in the mouth, a new study claims that we might have been wrong about the relationship of unhealthy food and cavities in children.
Sugar Or No Sugar: No Major Effect On Cavities
A birth cohort of 127 children from two upstate New York clinics connected to universities was monitored in the study publishedin the journal BMC Oral Health . Dental exams and carer questionnaires about dietary intake were among the data collected at the ages of 12, 18, and 24 months. Oral microbial samples were taken as part of a larger parent study, and dental caries were evaluated by qualified dentists using standardised protocols. Mothers reported how often and how much their kids drank and snacked on 15 common items. Based on their sugar content, these were divided into two groups: high and low cariogenic potential. A weighted index that combined frequency and quantity to create "sweet" and "non-sweet" indices was used to track consumption.
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The study found that both sweet and non-sweet snack and drink consumption increased over time among all children, with some differences observed by race. To the surprise of the researchers, statisticalanalysis found no significant association between these consumption patterns and cavities in children. These findings suggest that dental cavities are caused by a variety of factors, including those beyond diet.
Tips For Your Child’s Oral Hygiene
- Before Teeth: After every feeding, gently rub a clean, damp washcloth over your baby's gums to keep them clean, even before their first tooth erupts.
- Under 3 Years: Assist your child in brushing twice a day for two minutes using a soft toothbrush and a rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste.
- Three Years And Older: Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to brush twice a day for two minutes. Instruct your child to spit out their toothpaste. Encourage your child to floss once a day if their teeth touch.
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Bottomline
Although the study found no significant relationship between sugary and cavities and oral health in young children, it doesn't mean that these foods do not pose other health risks, and should always be taken after immense consideration.