Kids’ teeth take a sugar hit: Decay and rot on rise as parents let kids fill up on treats

Source: DailyTelegraph

ALMOST 60 per cent of children aged over eight have at least one filling, with tooth decay now affecting children in nearly half of the nation’s families in the past year.

It comes as a third of parents admit allowing their children to have soft drinks, juice and energy drinks at least four times a week.

As well, 59 per cent of parents are saying they find it difficult to get children to brush their teeth twice a day.

The Australian Dental ­Association figures, released ahead of Dental Health Week from next Monday, found the average Aussie consumes more than double the world’s average 17 teaspoons of sugar every day.

Not surprisingly, 39 percent of parents believe they need to set a better example for their kids when it comes to oral healthcare.

“It’s common for parents and extended family to offer children a ‘treat’ to reward good behaviour or simply in response to children’s ‘pester power’,” Oral Health Committee chairman Peter ­Alldritt said.

“Using food to reward, bribe or comfort children sends an inappropriate message about food from an early age.” He said parents should consider the types of snacks given to their kids, with many marketed as healthy actually high in sugar or prone to getting stuck in kids’ teeth, increasing acid attacks which cause decay.

The major culprits included such staples as dried fruit, sweet and savoury biscuits, fruit juice, muesli bars, crackers, children’s cereals, flavoured milk, sweetened yoghurt, canned fruit and ­banana bread.

“When choosing snacks, be aware of how much sugar is in them but, more importantly, reduce the number of times they eat these foods and make sure they are eaten in one go and preferably as part of a meal.”

Dentist David Farrington said The Dental Lounge at Hunters Hill focused on making children feel comfortable and happy to visit the dentist.

“Our whole ethos is trying to make the dentist a more approachable person because historically it hasn’t been like that,” Dr Farrington said.

“We want to make it ­comfortable and fun.

“For their first few years they should come with mum and dad and have a ride in the chair, but from three or four they should be coming once a year.”

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