Does anyone else remember visits from the school dentist where he’d have you brush and then chew on funny purple tablets that showed where your brushing skills were delinquent?
As parents, we know all about protecting our children’s teeth from cavities, but now comes news from Canadian dentists that we must be concerned about the acids found in everyday foods and drinks attacking their tooth enamel. Acid wear’s tricky because it can’t be seen by untrained eyes, but your dentist may notice the early signs; translucency, discolouration and a rounding of the shape of the teeth.
The most dangerous culprits are fruit juices, carbonated beverages and sauces (including that staple of most kids’ diets, ketchup) and they can damage growing teeth by softening the protective layer of enamel, making it more vulnerable to being worn away by brushing.
Sensodyne is launching a new toothpaste called ProNamel for Children to help re-harden softened tooth enamel and protect young buds from acid attacks, but there are other steps you can take to protect those pearly whites.
Interestingly, dentists suggest avoiding brushing your teeth right after eating, when the enamel is soft. Insteady, it’s best to brush 30-60 minutes after exposure to acidic food and drink. (A big glass of water or milk after meals will also neutralize the acids).
Encourage kids to swallow acidic drinks immediately rather than swishing them around in their mouths. It’s also better to drink an acid-y drink in one sitting, rather than sipping it throughout the day.
We do everything we can to keep our kids smiling, is it any wonder we’d do everything we could to protect those smiles?
