American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Most parents and caregivers unaware their best intentions may be fostering tooth decay in children.
Summary:
- A piece of caramel is a "better" snack for teeth than a cracker? I didn't think so! But yes, because the caramel dissolves away more quickly than a cracker (all starches are complex sugars and can thus lead to cavities).
- Babies are actually born without cavity causing bacteria. But these bacteria can be transferred from caregivers via sharing food, utensils, letting little ones put their fingers in our mouth, etc.
Additional tips:
- Limit in between meal snacks. Cavities are more about frequency of exposure.
- Do not put little ones to sleep with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice.
- Do not be afraid of chocolate milk as it contains calcium, vitamins and proteins and kids are more likely to drink it than regular milk. Just rinse well with water after.
- Children should see a dentist by 12 months of age or up to 6 months after their teeth first erupt.