‘Healthy’ fruit juices can damage teeth according to study
Jeanne:
August 5th, 2007
Few people are aware that fruit juices and health cordials can cause as much damage to children’s teeth as high-sugar fizzy drinks. British researchers have found that some organic fruit juices and so-called ‘healthy’ fruit squashes contain as much sugar as some carbonated beverages. Most parents are unaware of this fact, however, and still encourage their children to consume vast quantities of squash or juice, especially during the summer months.
However, dentists for Teeth for Life, the organization which initiated this research, have urged parents to limit their children’s intake of fruit juice to one glass per day. According to Dr. David Stemmer,
Dental erosion caused by acidic fruit juices and squashes affects the whole surface of a tooth. Exposure daily will cause a progressive loss of enamel with the effect that the teeth ’shrink’ and crumble at the biting edge. Even diet drinks which have no sugar in are very acidic and can dissolve tooth enamel. While mothers and fathers think they are doing the best by their children by giving them ‘healthier’ drinks, the acid in these drinks are wearing away the enamel. I am seeing more and more children whose teeth have been damaged in this way.
This research comes as a surprise as fruit juices have generally been regarded as one of the healthiest things a child can consume. Researchers have a number of tips for parents who still want their children to have fruit juice as part of their diet. Dentists encourage parents to provide acidic beverages like juices to children only at meal times, thereby ensuring that they are consumed in moderation. Maintaining good mouth-hygiene is also essential. Children should be supervised as they brush their teeth. Fluoride toothpastes should be used and teeth should only be cleaned thirty minutes after the child has drunk the juice. Dentists also recommend that parents consider other healthy alternatives to fruit juice. As one researcher noted:
This is often very difficult for parents. Fruit juices generally speaking are acidic and contain a considerable amount of sugar. The safest drinks out there are water and milk. If you have got to use fruit juice to get enough fluid into your kids, dilute it as much as you can with water.