7 Tips to Cut Down on Sugar and the Importance of Doing So

It’s a long-standing joke that dentists hate Halloween because it means kids will eat so much sugar. That joke is rooted in fact. We don’t think you should live a fully sugar-free life, but we do want people to understand the seriousness of sugar’s impact on their oral and overall health. 

That’s particularly important to Irene Zaki, DDS, and our team. Why? Because we’re trying to help our patients build lifelong healthy habits. If your child has a sweet tooth, let us know at their next appointment at Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry in Riverside, California. Dr. Zaki can talk with them about how sugar affects their teeth, giving them some food for thought at their next pediatric dentistry visit. 

Why kids should watch how much sugar they consume

Health experts issue two big warnings around sugar: It’s bad for maintaining a healthy weight, and it’s bad for maintaining healthy teeth. 

We’ll approach this from our area of expertise: oral health. Sugar feeds the bacteria that live in plaque. Eating too much of it can help bacteria thrive, eroding your children’s teeth and irritating their gums. 

7 ways to shrink your child’s sugar intake

Dr. Zaki has a few tips to help here:

#1: Watch the sugars they drink

Kids’ drinks are often absolutely loaded with sugar. Juice, for example, has tons of sugar in it. Instead, try infusing plain water with their favorite fruit. 

#2: Look for no-sugar-added options

Added sugars can be particularly hard on your child’s health. Look for options with no added sugar (added sugars are usually listed separately under sugars on the nutrition label). For example, no-sugar-added peanut butter can help them consume a lot less sugar with a swap they might not even notice. 

#3: Eat dessert a half hour after dinner

If your child goes straight from dinner to dessert, they might overindulge. It takes about 30 minutes for the body to realize that it’s full. Putting a little time between their last meal and their sweet treat might help them eat less. 

#4: Start their day with limited sugar

Cereal often has a lot of sugar. Explore other options, like oatmeal, eggs, or unsweetened yogurt with fruit. 

#5: Make fruit their sweet snack

Fruit has sugar in it, but it’s natural. That can help your child’s sweet tooth get satisfied with healthy options instead of highly processed ones. 

#6: Treat candy like a special treat

Obviously, candy is loaded with sugar. Help your child see it as something they should enjoy on special occasions, not regularly. 

#7: Keep an eye on total sugar intake

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids not get more than 25 grams of sugar a day. As you pour them drinks or hand them snacks, check the labels first to get a better idea of where their typical intake falls. This way, you can know how many changes you need to make.

If you figure out that your child is eating too much sugar, talk with Dr. Zaki. She can help your family come up with ways to reduce your child’s sugar intake. Call Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry or schedule an appointment online today.