An Apple a Day

Reports from the Academy of General Dentistry suggest that the dietary habits of school children have an increase in sugar intake.  The study took place over a 15-month period in which researchers monitored the dietary habits of preschoolers before and after the beginning of the school year.  Within that time, the average number of tooth decay incidents leapt from 9.7 to 15.3.  In just one school year, the average preschool child developed 5.6 cavities.  Only 19 percent of these preschoolers were entirely free of cavities.

Marilynn Belek, DMD, chief dental officer and senior vice president of Delta Dental believes this proves the importance of basic dental education.  “This study substantiates the basics taught to dental school students that diet is an important part of proper oral health," says  Belek.  She goes on to explain that the easiest way for parents to help their children prevent tooth decay is to keep track of their eating habits.  Parents should find out what kind of food schools offer their children for lunch.  "If programs do not offer healthy alternatives, talk to the school about incorporating healthy lunches or snacks," says Belek.  Another option for preventing cavities is to protect your children’s teeth with dental sealants, which are thin coatings of bonding material that are applied to the teeth.  These act as barriers to the bacteria that causes cavities and can be applied as soon as the child’s first molars come in.

Belek also suggests alternatives to candy and other sugary snacks at home, like apples and bite-sized carrots.    Any increase in sugar can raise the risk of developing cavities, especially in children.  Every time your child consumes some form of sugary substance, organisms in their mouths feed on the sugar and produce acid that erodes the protective enamel, causing tooth decay.  It’s a good idea for children to brush their teeth and rinse with water after lunch if they eat something sugary, but simply eating a piece of fruit can help clean the surface of the teeth and gums.  An apple a day really can keep the dentist away (although a dental exam every six months is still recommended by most dentists).