Many parents think that fruit juice is a healthy drink for their children because it contains beneficial vitamins and minerals. However, experts recommend limiting the amount that your children consume. While it does have some healthy aspects, fruit juice is also incredibly bad for your children’s teeth. That’s why it’s helpful to understand how juice is related to proper dental care in young children.

How Fruit Juice Affects Children’s Teeth

According to recent studies, 23% of children aged two to five years experience some sort of tooth decay. One of the contributing factors is drinking too much fruit juice. In addition to the healthy vitamins and minerals, fruit juice also has large amounts of sugar and a high acidity level. These two factors work in conjunction to wear down the protective enamel and corrode the teeth.

The sugar found in the liquid is converted to acid by the bacteria in children’s mouths, and if it’s not cleaned, it causes the teeth to decay. This is problematic even if your children still have their baby teeth. When baby teeth decay or are lost too early, it increases the chances that the adult teeth won’t come in correctly and leads to painful and dangerous infections.

Healthy Alternatives to Fruit Juice

Due in part to the dental care problems associated with fruit juice, experts say that children under one shouldn’t consume any amounts of fruit juice. It doesn’t offer any nutritional benefits when they’re that young, and it creates dental problems. From ages one to six, you should limit the amount of juice that your children drink to four to six ounces a day.

An ideal way to do that is by making the drink a special treat that’s given out with a meal or a snack. There are also plenty of healthy alternatives to fruit juice that are just as delicious and won’t wear down your children’s teeth. Milk is a popular option because it doesn’t contain harmful sugar and provides children with healthy vitamin D, which supports bone growth.

Many parents also use unsweetened iced tea. They come in multiple flavors that kids enjoy, and there are many options available that don’t contain caffeine. You can even make your own low-sugar soda at home. Simply buy a SodaStream® and use plain carbonated water with a healthy sweetening agent, like fresh fruit, to create your own delicious alternative for the children.

For more tips to protect your children’s teeth, contact the experts at Brandi Prather, DMD, PSC. This practice specializes in providing the highest level of dental care for children in the Somerset, KY, area. Whether it’s preventative measures, like simple cleanings, or procedures to counteract tooth decay, they have the experience and technology needed to keep your children’s teeth protected. Learn more about their services by following them on Facebook or call (606) 679-5437 to schedule an appointment.