Your Child’s Fruit Juice May Be Less Healthy Than You Think

Juice is loved by people of all ages, and it’s a particularly popular choice for children. After all, kids love the great taste and their parents love all the vitamins it contains! However, recent studies and surveys suggest that kids fruit juice isn’t as healthy as it appears. In fact, you may be unintentionally giving them a lot more sugar on a daily basis than you realize! Read on as we go over how your child’s favorite juice drinks are affecting their teeth and what you can do to keep them happy, hydrated, and cavity-free.

Is There More Sugar or Juice in Your Drink?

Fruit is often associated with being healthy, so many parents don’t think too much about the juice they give their kids. However, the reality is that marketing companies use images of fruits and misleading language to make it seem like their product is healthier than it actually is. For example, in a recent study of the top-selling brands of children’s drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages typically only contained 5% juice but still showed images of fruits and claims of “less sugar” or “no high fructose corn syrup.” In the end, it can be incredibly difficult to tell which juice beverages are artificially sweetened and which are not. 100% fruit juice is the healthiest option, but experts warn that even this should be consumed cautiously.

The 2 Big Problems with Juice

Did you know that researchers recommend that children under six years old drink no more than six ounces of juice a day, and kids over six should consume no more than 12 ounces a day? Many parents are surprised to hear that these rules pertain to even 100% fruit juice drinks, not just the artificially sweetened varieties. The reasoning behind this has to do with two big factors:

• Sugar content: Fruit is so sweet because it contains natural sugars. Studies show that a glass of apple or grape juice contains just as much sugar as a glass of soda.
• Acidic nature: Juice is also naturally very acidic. Every time these acids touch your child’s teeth, the enamel weakens and becomes more prone to cavities.

Staying Hydrated & Cavity-Free

The sugar content and acidic nature of juice work hand-in-hand to dramatically increase your little one’s risk of tooth decay. However, 100% fruit juice still offers beneficial vitamins and nutrients that are good for your child. So what can you do to help them stay hydrated and healthy while simultaneously keeping cavities at bay? Thankfully, experts have several tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure that your child is only drinking the recommended amount of juice a day
• Try diluting juice with water to lessen the sugar and acid concentrations
• Encourage your child to drink through a straw and finish their drink in a timely manner to reduce how often their teeth are exposed to juice
• Consider giving your child more milk or other calcium-rich beverages to help keep their teeth strong
• Encourage your child to drink more tap water, which will wash away the lingering sugars from juice and often contain the beneficial nutrient fluoride

About the Practice

Brush Dental is dedicated to helping the families of Royse City and the surrounding communities achieve the happy, healthy smiles they deserve. Their team is proud to offer a wide range of services for patients of all ages, including specialized treatments for children from their on-staff Board-Certified pediatric dentist. With their advanced training and years of experience, they can help your child achieve and maintain optimal oral health. If you have more questions about fruit juice for kids and how they cause cavities, they can be contacted via their website or at (469) 723-4000.