Sugar and your child's teeth: what every parent should know

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, and sugar is the primary driver. But it's not the obvious culprits that cause the most damage.

Hidden sugars

Many foods marketed as healthy contain significant amounts of sugar:

• Fruit juice and smoothies (even "no added sugar" varieties)
• Dried fruit and fruit bars
• Flavoured yoghurts
• Breakfast cereals
• Tomato ketchup and pasta sauces

Frequency over quantity

A child who eats one biscuit every hour does far more damage than one who eats five biscuits in one sitting. Every sugar exposure creates an acid attack lasting 20-40 minutes. The key is reducing the number of sugar exposures per day, not obsessing over total grams.

Best practices

• Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes only
• Water and plain milk are the only safe drinks between meals
• If your child has fruit juice, dilute it and serve with meals
• Avoid sugar in the hour before bed after brushing

The cheese trick

Cheese at the end of a meal helps neutralise acid and provides calcium. It's one of the best things your child can eat for dental health.