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Each February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness of the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
To celebrate this event, the Kaiserslautern American will be featuring weekly articles from the 86th Dental Squadron focusing on various aspects of oral health.
In addition, the 86th Dental Squadron will be hosting Dental Health presentations for students at the following locations:
» Ramstein Library Story Time — Thursday
» Sembach Elementary and Middle School — Feb. 11
» Ramstein CDC preschool age children — Feb.15
» Ramstein High School health education classes — Feb. 15 to 16
» Ramstein Intermediate School — Feb. 16 to 18
» Ramstein Middle School — Feb. 23
» Ramstein Elementary School — Feb. 24 to 25
Sipping, Snacking and Tooth Decay:
Many parents across the country will issue a common refrain at dinner time tonight: “You’d better eat that, it’s good for you.”
And there’s another old favorite in the parental arsenal of dietary admonitions: “Don’t eat that. It will rot your teeth.” Now more than ever, kids are faced with a bewildering array of food choices, from fresh produce to sugar-laden processed
convenience meals and snack foods. What children eat and when they eat may affect not only their general health but also their oral health.
Americans are consuming foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often and in larger portions than ever before. It’s clear that junk foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many people.
For example, the average teenage boy in the U.S. consumes 81 gallons of soft drinks each year.
Alarmingly, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Common activities may contribute to the tendency toward tooth decay. These include grazing habitually on foods with minimal nutritional value and frequently sipping on sugary drinks.
When sugar is consumed repeatedly in large, often hidden, amounts, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. Sugar on teeth provides food for bacteria, which produce acid. The acid in turn can eat away the enamel on teeth.
Almost all foods have some type of sugar that cannot and should not be eliminated from our diets. Many of these foods contain important nutrients and add enjoyment to eating. But there is a risk for tooth decay from a diet high in sugars and starches. Starches can be found in everything from bread to pretzels to salad dressing, so read labels and plan carefully for a balanced, nutritious diet for you and your kids.
Reduce Your Children’s Risk of Tooth Decay:
» Sugary foods and drinks should be consumed with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.
» Limit between-meal snacks. If children crave a snack, offer them nutritious foods like fruit or nuts.
» If your child chews gum, make it sugarless. Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay producing acid.
» Monitor beverage consumption. Instead of soft drinks all day, children should drink plenty of water and low-fat milk.
» Help your children develop good brushing and flossing habits.
» Schedule regular dental visits.
(Courtesy of the 86th Dental Squadron)
