We hear plenty about foods that can be bad for your child’s teeth, but we don’t talk enough about the harm certain drinks can cause. You probably know sodas aren’t good for teeth, but you may think other beverages, like sports drinks, are OK for kids’ teeth.
At the Center for Pediatric Dental Health, we know it can be difficult to find the right foods and drinks for your kids that they will actually eat and drink. But we also know that not all drinks are as healthy as they appear.
What’s the best drink for kids’ teeth? Are sports drinks bad for kids’ teeth? We’ll fill you in on the best drinks for kids.
How Can Drinks Harm Kids’ Teeth?
You may not think of drinks as harmful as food. After all, you don’t chew your soda or bite your juice, right? But drinks can have the same reaction in your mouth as food, in that they can affect the pH balance.
Any food or drink in your mouth reacts with your saliva, altering your pH balance. In other words, food and drink create acid. These acids start the digestive process before your food or drink hits your stomach.
Some foods and nutrients produce more acid than others. Sugars and carbohydrates are the worst, but all foods and drinks (except plain water) create acidic reactions.
These acids attack teeth and gums, creating plaque that traps bacteria. Acids and bacteria build up, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Brushing and flossing daily reduces plaque and acid in the mouth, but consuming foods and drinks with lower amounts of sugars and acids will also reduce your chances of damage.
Are Sodas Bad for Kids’ Teeth?
You’ve probably heard doctors and dentists say that sodas are bad for children’s teeth. They’re right. Sodas contain their own acids as well as a ton of sugar that creates even more acid in your mouth.
Diet sodas are nearly as bad because they still contain acid, and the artificial sweetener can still cause a reaction in your child’s mouth. In addition, all sodas have little to no nutritional value. It’s like having all of the pain with none of the gain.
Are Sports Drinks OK for Kids’ Teeth?
You may think sports drinks are OK for children’s teeth. After all, they have electrolytes, which is good for the body, right? Some even have added vitamins or minerals for an energy boost.
We encourage you to read the labels more closely. What you’ll find is sugar — a LOT of sugar. Part of the “energy boost” from sodas comes from your basic sugar high. Those sugars can stick to your child’s teeth in the form of plaque and accelerate tooth decay and cavities.
Even the added vitamins and minerals in some sports drinks aren’t enough to counteract the damage from all the added sugar. We recommend that your child avoid sports drinks if possible.
If they do need sports drinks to rehydrate after activities, encourage them to drink them all at once rather than sipping them over several hours. Sports drinks will soften and weaken the enamel when consumed. Once the drink is finished, the enamel will harden again after about 30-45 minutes.
Is Juice OK for Kids’ Teeth?
Fruit juice has to be good for your child’s teeth. After all, fresh fruit is recommended for a proper, balanced diet. So the juice from that fruit should be fine, right?
Not exactly. Fruit juice does contain vitamins and minerals often missing from sodas and sports drinks, so it does have that advantage. But look closer, and you’ll find that fruit juice and “fruit-flavored” juices are LOADED with sugar. Even “real” or “100%” juice can be harmful due to the natural acids found in fruits and the extra acids created from all the added sugar.
We’re not saying your child can’t ever have juice. We just recommend they have their juice with meals rather than between meals to reduce the amount of acid and the time between eating and brushing.
Water Enhancers and Water Flavors
Water enhancers have less sugar and calories than sports drinks or sodas, but they still contain both, as well as their own acids. Sugar and acid can linger on your teeth and weaken enamel, leading to tooth decay.
If you must flavor water, use natural flavorings. Add a piece of fruit to the glass. While it will have sugar and acid, both are natural and produce less acid in the mouth than artificial or processed sugar.
What Drink Is Best for Kids’ Teeth?
So what’s the best drink for kids? Plain water is obviously the best drink for kids, especially fluoridated tap water. Plain water lacks the sugar and acids, and tap water’s added fluoride helps strengthen enamel and prevent cavities and tooth decay.
Milk is another good drink for kids. While milk does contain some sugar, it also provides many vitamins and minerals, as well as calcium to strengthen bones and teeth. It also contains protein, which is excellent for your child’s developing muscles, including their jaw muscles. Milk with vitamin D or vitamin A added is even better.
How Do I Protect My Child’s Teeth?
There are ways to protect your child’s teeth and let them enjoy their favorite drink once in a while (though we still recommend they stay away from sodas). Here are some tips to enjoy drinks safely for children’s teeth.
- Rinse their mouths with plain water 30-45 minutes after drinking sugary drinks
- Use a straw to help the liquid bypass the teeth
- Limit sugary drinks to meal times
- Stick to plain water outside of meal time
- Brush their teeth after meals and floss at least once daily
Be sure to wait 30-45 minutes after consuming sports or sugary drinks before rinsing the mouth or brushing and flossing teeth. The high-sugar drinks will soften the enamel during that time.
The bristles and abrasive material in the toothpaste can scratch and damage softened enamel. That’s why waiting until the enamel rehardens is essential.
FAQs About Drinks and Kids’ Teeth
Is it safer to drink juice or flavored water in a sippy cup?
Are water enhancers better than sports drinks or sodas?
Will fluoride toothpaste reverse the damage from sugary drinks?
Pediatric Dental Care in Sicklerville, MD
The key to excellent oral health is good nutrition, and that includes drinks as much as food. A low-sugar diet helps, but it should be accompanied by a low-sugar liquid diet as well. While it’s tempting to believe that fruit juice or a sports drink is the healthiest option, the fact is that plain water is best for your child’s oral health.
Are you concerned about whether your child has cavities from sports drinks? If so, visit a pediatric dentist in Sicklerville, MD, Mount Laurel, MD, or Woolrich Township, MD, by scheduling an appointment with the Center for Pediatric Dental Health.
