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You want your kids to be healthy and strong, so you feed them nutritious meals, encourage them to play outside, and enforce a regular bedtime so they'll get enough sleep. You may also choose to buy sugar-free snacks, such as soft drinks or chewing gum, instead of the sugar-filled alternative. However, Hawaii's best pediatric dentists, the team at Pedodontic Associates, say that "sugar-free" foods and drinks can be misleading.

While the lack of sugar is good for your kid's diet, pediatric dentists say it's the acid content in sugar-free products that damages their teeth. Sugar-free beverages can start to erode the outer layer of their teeth, and even sugar-free mints or gum increase the chance of dental erosion. Also be wary of foods with a sour taste—acid is often what gives it that particular flavor. 

Repeated exposure to sugar-free foods or drinks with acid makes dental erosion more likely. This can lead to a whole host of problems, such as tooth sensitivity or pitting, where the enamel on the teeth has been eaten away. That means a great amount of dental care in your child's future.

best pediatric dentists

The best way to cut down on your child's sugar intake is through sugar-free desserts or beverages that you make at home. If you still want to buy sugar-free gum, stick to mint flavors, as they are less acidic than fruit-flavored gum.

At Pedodontic Associates, the team of pediatric dentists and support staff believes in the importance of not only providing their patients with the best information, but in offering superior-quality dental care services as well. For more information or to schedule an appointment at one of their three convenient offices, call (808) 735-1733 for their Honolulu location, (808) 877-0066 for their Kahului location, or (808) 487-7933 for Aiea location. You can also check out their website for more information.

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