By now you’ve heard of the latest statistics from the American Dental Association; 25% of children in the United States develop cavities before kindergarten. Parents work hard to feed their kids healthy foods, ensuring not just their oral health, but overall wellness and good eating habits. Sometimes, however, convenience and a child’s taste for sweets can lead to the regular consumption of foods that cause tooth decay. This is particularly pertinent at breakfast time. Cereal is often an easy, quick choice that kids love, but choosing the wrong breakfast cereals can put your kids at risk for tooth decay, obesity, and energy deficiency during the day.

Take a look at some helpful facts to consider from Pedodontic Associates, Oahu’s best pediatric dentists:

Certain breakfast cereals have more sugar than hefty desserts. The following cereals have more sugar than many popular cookies and pastries: Cap’n Crunch, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Golden Crisp. The problem with these cereals, like most sugary foods, is that the combination of refined sugar and starch causes dental plaque on your child’s teeth to produce damaging acids.

One recent study suggests that drinking milk after eating sugary cereals can neutralize the effects of high-sugar content. However, the safest bet would be to forego these cereals altogether. Every day there are new options for healthy, delicious foods your children will love. Brands like Laughing Giraffe and Nature’s Path Organics meet nutritional guidelines, but if you want to stick with bigger names, you can still make healthy choices for your kids by choosing original Cheerios or Kix.

Don’t let breakfast be the cause of poor health and tooth decay for your child. Pedodontic Associates can help you make the right choice for your child with comprehensive information and advice on eating practices for good oral health. Most importantly, however, is making sure your child has regular dental check-ups. Tooth decay can have harmful long-term effects even in young children. Call the pediatric dentists of Oahu at (808) 487-7933.