Tag Archives: cavities

Fight Cavities with Gummy Bears

Another candy joins the fight against bad teeth: those sweet, colorful Gummy Bears! As long as those Gummy Bears are sweetened with xylitol, that is. Xylitol is a naturally-occurring sugar alcohol that is often used as a sugar substitute. Studies have shown that xylitol can help reduce levels of a particular kind of bacteria (mutans streptococci) in plaque. You may have seen xylitol as an ingredient in sugar-free chewing gum! However, gum isn’t usually recommended for younger children — it’s all too easy for a young child to chew and swallow gum, rather than just chew it. A study from … Continue reading →

Cavities on the Rise For Young Children

Posted on by

A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is noting an increase in cavities in children between the ages of two and five. This report follows up on an earlier study of more than twenty-six thousand Americans conducted between 1988 and 1994. Study participants had their oral health monitored through interviews and regular checkups. A repeat of the study took place between 1999 and 2004 — approximately twenty-five thousand Americans were involved the second time around. Again, participants were monitored through interviews and regular checkups. The CDC compared the two studies to take a look at dental health … Continue reading →

The Healthy Tooth Diet

Most parents understand that sugar = cavities and understand the importance of teeth brushing when it comes to good dental health. But did you know that some types of desserts are healthier for teeth than your child’s lunchtime sandwich? It’s true! Cavities in teeth are caused when cavity-causing bacteria are fed by sugars and create acid which erodes tooth enamel. The more often the bacteria is fed, the higher the likelihood of tooth decay. It is pretty difficult and unhealthy for the rest of the body to avoid all sugars. There are healthy sugars – such as those found in … Continue reading →