CEREAL (and sweets) WARNING

Cereal Warning

By Richard Holstein

As we have discussed, SWEET CEREALS (as well as other non-foods like “fruit snacks”, pop tarts, granola bars, waffles/pancakes with syrup, etc.) are among the leading causes of tooth decay. They are NOT food. They ARE mostly sticky sugar, they cannot be brushed from between the teeth, and they tend to remain there for at least 24 hours until they are replaced by more “breakfast garbage”.

WE MUST INSIST THAT OUR PATIENTS NOT EAT ANY CEREALS WITH GREATER THAN        13 PERCENT SUGAR. (That’s not 13 grams; it’s 13 PERCENT – do the math!). We would prefer no more than 4% if possible.

If you, as a parent, choose to give your child these cariogenic foods, YOU will take the responsibility for their tooth decay. It’s not a laughing matter and we assume that you really want to be good parents and that you have come to us for learned advice. Please consider the totality of what your children eat. Add up the numbers -  and remember that as the kids get older, we tend to see less of what they do (and eat).

With your help, we can raise another generation of children that can say “Look Mom, no cavities”.

Following some interesting facts below is a list of some of the most popular cereals and their sugar contents. PLEASE consider this when you next shop.

Facts and Myths

FACT: TOOTH DECAY is caused by BACTERIA in plaque (primarily streptococcus mutans) that metabolize (eat) simple carbohydrates (mainly SUGAR) and produce ACID that makes holes (CAVITIES) in your children’s teeth.

FACT: The stickier the sweet, the higher its decay potential.

FACT: Good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) will significantly reduce tooth decay by removing bacterial plaque. This must be done as soon as possible after eating to be most effective.

FACT: Different children – even in the same family with the same diet) – will tend to have different decay rates due to different bacterial colonization. Don’t assume that because one of your children (or you or your spouse) has little or no decay that their siblings will also.

MYTH: “My child has soft teeth. That is why he/she gets cavities.” With few exceptions, teeth are teeth. Your child develops cavities based upon his/her biochemistry and tooth anatomy, but primarily DIET and HYGIENE!

MYTH: “I only feed my child a little sweet cereal, occasional “fruit snacks, sodas “pop tarts”, cookies, ice cream, cake, waffles or pancakes with syrup and candy. Surely, that can’t hurt.” Who is the fool in this equation? ANY sucrose will promote tooth decay – whether it’s one bite or a tub full. It’s also terrible for your child’s body.

MYTH: Sugar doesn’t cause diabetes. While sugar is not the actual cause of diabetes, it can precipitate the onset and increase its severity. American children eat dangerously large quantities of refined sugars and we are beginning to see almost epidemic numbers of Type II TEENAGE diabetics!

MYTH: “My child brushes every day, so sugar isn’t a problem.” The stickier the sweet (like cereals, waffles, pancakes, etc.), the longer it stays BETWEEN the teeth. The toothbrush does NOT get in between the teeth. Most tooth decay in children begins there, where we cannot see it (without xrays) until it becomes huge!

SWEET CEREALS are some of the worst things that anyone could eat. They are virtually worthless nutritionally, create huge metabolic demands upon the body, tend to make children hyper (and hence, impede their ability to learn in school), over weight, and induce later hypoglycemia in susceptible children (also hurting learning).

PRINCETON PEDODONTICS

Richard Holstein, D.M.D., FADH

Pediatric Dentistry

601 Ewing Street – Suite B.11

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

609-921-1047

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