4 things that are worse for your kids' teeth than you may think

Any food can lead to cavities but, if your children consume a lot of sugary foods and drinks, their teeth are at higher risk.

“Bacteria that cause cavities need sugar to grow,” said dentist Anne Baker of Raleigh Pediatric Dentistry. “When the bacteria eat the sugar, they produce acid that dissolves away tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities — holes in the teeth — if left unchecked. If food particles are not removed with adequate brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and flossing, this process is accelerated.”

While candy and desserts are common sugar culprits, there are lesser-known foods and drinks that could contribute to cavities in your kids’ teeth.

While most foods are processed because they’ve been chopped, dried, frozen or altered in some way, the ultra-processed food kids may snack on tend to have a lot of sugar, leading to a mouthful of cavities.

“Kids often like to snack on processed foods like crackers, granola bars and chips in between meals,” said Baker. “These snacks can get stuck between their teeth, sitting there throughout the day if not rinsed or brushed away."

You should limit the frequency of snacking and offer fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables when possible instead of sticky foods or processed carbohydrates, said Baker. No matter the snack or meal, have your kids rinse with water after eating.

What parent hasn’t heard their children ask for more ketchup, ranch, peanut butter or other condiments they like to drench their food in? Unfortunately, those condiments can be full of sugar.

“Parents are often surprised to know that peanut butter, ketchup and other condiments that children frequently eat contain lots of added sugar, so it is important to check the labels on foods prior to giving them to children,” said Baker.

While it seems like fruit juice should be healthy because, after all, it has fruit in it, the problem is that it doesn’t have the fiber of whole fruit. That means you are left with the sugar without health benefits — and juice isn’t the only problem.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages are one of the biggest sources of added sugars in the modern diet,” said Baker. “These include sodas, juice, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, flavored milk and sweetened milk alternatives.”

It's important to remember during hot summer months that sports drinks are both acidic and contain a lot of sugar, a double whammy against tooth health. Unfortunately, when kids sip them throughout the day, they are constantly exposing their teeth to potential damage.

“Prolonged exposure to the sugar and acid found in sports drinks can lead to multiple cavities between the teeth, even when brushing and flossing is happening in the morning and at night,” said Baker. “Water is the best drink to provide to children and adolescents to quench their thirst and meet their fluid intake needs.”

The same goes for soda. While the American Heart Association recommends that added sugar should be no more than 100 calories of what your kids eat in a day, a 12-ounce can of soda often exceeds that, said Baker.

You may be surprised to learn that the liquid medicines you give your children can be high in sugar. It’s obvious why, though: It encourages kids to take medicine. However, taking that syrup before bed means it sits on their teeth overnight and can contribute to decay.

“It is important to brush teeth after giving children antibiotics or over-the-counter fever reducers, such as Tylenol,” said Baker. “I know this can be tough when your child is sick or is teething, but if these medicines are allowed to sit on teeth throughout the night, cavities can form.”

Additionally, sticky foods can hurt teeth, even if they’re meant to contribute to your children’s health.

“One major culprit is gummy vitamins, which, even if they contain limited sugar, often stick in the teeth and between the teeth, acting like glue for other foods to stick to,” said Baker. “This can lead to cavities starting on the biting surfaces and between the teeth. A better alternative is a sugar-free chewable vitamin.”