Children's diet affects oral health
Children's oral health is largely dictated by what they eat because brushing and flossing is not as effective at a young age, an expert has claimed.For this reason, parents should ensure their kids do not eat too many sugary foods which erode tooth enamel and can lead to decay, Philip Greene, president-elect of the British Society of Periodontology, said.
One of the main causes of poor dental hygiene is dental caries, and these can be reduced by diet control because bacteria in plaque leads to weakened teeth.
Mr Greene explained: "Reduce the number of dietary intakes which contain sugar because plaque turns sugar into acid and acid dissolves tooth enamel.
"Thinking about periodontal disease, you prevent and control it by controlling the plaque because that has a direct effect on the gums."
Furthermore, brushing teeth is not effective when it comes to removing build up between teeth, which is where much of the decay begins.
This is what makes flossing so vital, however, small children are not typically used to the practice, so a handle on their diet is the best way to prevent sugar destroying their teeth.
