Is Fruit Juice Good For A Child's Teeth

Posted on 3/6/2023 by Fariba Mutschler

It is a well-known fact that children are drawn to sugary foods, and as a parent, you might be led into believing that fruit juices are a healthy drink that gives your child some nutritive value. However, fruit juices contain high amounts of sugar in them, even the ones said to be 'unsweetened'. These sugars can be detrimental to your child's oral health, as they can damage their teeth.

It is true that fruit juices may have more nutritive value than sodas and energy drinks. However, they are just as damaging to your child's teeth as sodas and other sugary drinks. For example, a glass of apple juice may contain almost as much sugar as the same serving of soda. So, how exactly can sugar be harmful to your child's teeth?

How sugar is harmful to your child's teeth

When your young one consumes sugary drinks, the bacteria that live in their mouth mix with the sugar content of the drink and form a weak acid. This acid can then eat away at the teeth' enamel, resulting in tooth decay and a host of other dental ailments. Sugar has been fingered as being one of the main causative agents of tooth decay. This makes it crucial that you lower your child's daily intake of sugary drinks, including fruit juices. As a good alternative, you can encourage them to eat more fresh fruit to ensure that their sweet tooth is still being satisfied.

In addition to this, fruit juices are also known to contain a high concentration of acids. The combination of sugar with these acids is even worse for your child's dental health. While the sugar provides food for the bacteria that cause cavities, the acids weaken the enamel by chipping away at it. According to the American Association of Paediatric Dentistry, children aged 1-6 should not consume more than six ounces of juice in a single day. Limiting your child's intake of sugary drinks will greatly improve your child's dental health. Fill free to reach out to us for your family's dental care needs.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
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