Children are inclined to eat any food that looks yummy. Schools, television, and parents have a big influence on the food choices of kids. Many snacks, like sugary or fatty foods, as well as fast food, can harm their overall and dental health.
Vending Machines
Children spend a large portion of their day at school. The food sold in cafeterias and vending machines influences the diets of students. Many vending machines sell soft drinks, sports drinks, and sweets, all of which are harmful for teeth. Over time, the carbohydrates and sugars can contribute to tooth decay and enamel erosion. Encourage your child to pack a lunch or snack and to drink water or milk instead of soda. Also, send your children to school with full stomachs. Eating breakfast in the morning will help children make better food choices throughout the day. They won’t be so hungry that they’ll just reach for the first unhealthy thing they see. Studies have also shown that breakfast-eating students have better comprehension and higher test scores during the day.
Fast Food
Many busy parents rely on fast food to feed their families. Fast food lacks the nutrition that children need to make their teeth and bones strong. In addition to excessive calories and fat, fast food meals usually contain a lot of sugar and starches that can attack teeth. Kids associate fast food with convenience and reward. For example, you may take your children to McDonald’s as a treat or celebration after a soccer game or for getting a good grade. Rewarding your children with fast food makes them associate unhealthy eating with positivity and fun. Kids’ meals also throw in a toy to tempt children even more. Try to limit fast food to one night a week, or less, and make sure your child brushes and flosses his teeth before bed. Home-cooked meals are always a much healthier and more nutritious option.
Commercials
The average child spends approximately three hours a day in front of the television. Advertisers spend about $900 million each year on ads aimed at children under age 12. More than two-thirds of advertising promotes junk food. Children see fast food meals with toys, sugary cereals and snacks with a cartoon spokesperson, and fruit juice drinks being guzzled by happy children. Kids connect the message of junk food and happiness, then beg their parents to buy the junk foods and fast foods they see in commercials. Monitor the amount of time your child spends watching television, and balance it with athletic and outdoor activities.
If junk food has taken a toll on your child’s teeth, Dr. Foust can help. Ask her how sealants and fluoride treatments for your child can prevent major dental probelms. Contact Dental Impressions of Ankeny, IA at (515) 965-0230 to schedule an appointment. Our dental office welcomes patients from Polk City, Alleman, Bondurant, Elkhart, and surrounding areas.
