Tooth decay, in the form of dental cavities or caries, is a common health problem, second in prevalence only to the common cold. Most people understand that candy and soda are bad for teeth but do not realize that all carbohydrates foods play a role in tooth decay.
All carbohydrates are not the same nutritionally but they all are made up of long chains of sugar. Some carbohydrate foods, such as soda, candy, table sugar, and honey, are simple chains of sugar. Other carbohydrates, such as grains, fruits, and milk products, are more complex chains and may contain additional nutrients. How are all carbohydrates related to tooth decay? The bacteria living in plaque, the sticky film coating the outer surface of teeth, feed on sugar and when they do so, produce an acid which destroys the tooth. Any carbohydrate that is left behind on the teeth can be food for the bacteria.
Repeated productions of acid can increase the risk of dental caries because the tooth does not have time to recover. Therefore, small amounts of carbohydrates eaten throughout the day are more damaging than large amounts eaten less frequently. This spells bad news for kids because snack time is often a favorite time of day and crackers and fruit leather a major snack time preference.
Bottom line: For happier teeth, steer your child away from constant snacking on carbohydrates throughout the day. Replace those carbohydrates with foods containing protein, which is not used by the bacteria. Sorry Goldfish and fruit leather – the gig is up.