Parents please talk to your children about the effects of drinking soda pop and other beverages containing sugar and acid. Limit the serving size and frequency your child consumes. These drinks should be consumed at meal times and not be be sipped on throughout the day. This includes juice, energy, and sports drinks. Encourage healthy alternatives like water and milk (although milk does contain natural sugars too!) Water contains no sugar, no acid, and tap water has fluoride to help prevent cavities and strengthen the enamel. Below is a picture with examples of some popular drinks and how many teaspoons of sugar are in these drinks.
The PH levels in drinks indicate how acidic it is. Water is neutral with a PH close to 7. Battery acid has a PH of less than 1 to give you an idea of how acidic these drinks are. The chart below shows the acidity, carbohydrates, calories, and caffeine levels. There is no nutritional value in soft drinks, only empty calories! Sugar in pop and other drinks combines with bacteria in the mouth to form acid and can cause cavities.
Chart courtesy of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.
Children should visit their dentist regularly for an exam and cleaning. Children should brush morning and night for 2 minutes! After nighttime brushing only water should be consumed. Sugary liquids and foods pool in the mouth and coat the tongue and teeth with sugar and acid while sleeping.
Pediatric Dental center Warren, MI Dr. O’Riordan, Dr. Shah