Did you know that eating a diet high in acidic foods, like oranges, lemons, tomatoes or pickles, can damage the enamel on your child’s teeth? The occasional glass of orange juice or piece of pizza with tomato sauce usually isn’t a problem, but frequent and/or long-term exposure to acid can weaken your child’s teeth. Luckily, the Pediatric Dental Group has a few suggestions that will help prevent the problem. The children’s dentists have served Oahu since 1966 and offer comprehensive dental care and gentle dental exams.

Acid in food becomes a problem when it lingers too long in the mouth. When your children eat or drink acidic foods, remind them to chew and swallow the food immediately, rather than holding it in their mouths. Discourage them from sucking on lemons, oranges or other citrus fruit that can damage their teeth.

Some kinds of candy also contain acid, particularly “sour” types of candies. Gummy or powdered sour candy can be particularly damaging because these kinds of candies tend to stick to the teeth until they’re brushed away. Whether your child eats acidic food or drinks beverages containing acid, it’s important to immediately drink a glass of water to help remove the acid from the teeth.

The Pediatric Dental Group knows how much you care about your child’s dental health. They offer pediatric dentistry services in two convenient Oahu locations. Schedule an appointment with one of their offices by calling (808) 593-8828 for their Honolulu office or (808) 245-2131 for their Lihue office. You can find more information about them on their website or Facebook page.