Canned fruit juice can cause tooth decay in children

Every year, many children under the age of two lose their baby teeth because of drinking bottled fruit juice.

Parents may think they are giving their children healthy drinks, but the high sugar content in fruit juice is actually eating away at their children’s teeth. Some children have lost several teeth, requiring doctors to treat them under anesthesia.

The number of young children with tooth decay is increasing every year, mainly due to diets high in sugar and lack of regular dental check-ups, according to dentists.

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said: "Regardless of age, regular consumption of sugary foods and drinks outside of main meals is the leading cause of tooth decay. Although people today take measures to prevent tooth decay (brushing, rinsing), the risk to teeth is still extremely high due to regular exposure to sugary foods and drinks."

Parents need to be aware of the high sugar content in canned fruit juice.

A glass of apple juice or smoothie typically contains about seven teaspoons of sugar - the same amount as a can of Coke, four teaspoons in a yogurt and four and a half teaspoons in a cereal bar.

Last week, the World Health Organization said people should eat no more than six teaspoons of sugar a day to prevent tooth decay and obesity.

Dr Ewa Rozwadowska, a spokeswoman for the British Dental Health Foundation, said she once had to remove all 20 baby teeth from a child under the age of two because they were completely rotten.

"Children are being fed snacks that contain hidden sugars. People are not always aware that fruit juice can cause tooth decay as much as fizzy drinks. Parents often do not take their children to the dentist for early check-ups when these problems should be dealt with as soon as possible," she added.

This may be partly because dental check-ups are expensive and for some people it is difficult to afford regular fees.

According to Alobacsi.vn