Having a sweet tooth isn’t a bad thing, as long as you know how to control it. This is also true with our children. As many of us have experienced, children go crazy for sugar. Although it’s okay every so often, a bad diet can lead to cavities and bad oral health. That’s why the best pediatric dentist in Bergen County recommends these tips in order to tame your child’s sweet tooth.
Make Them Healthy Treats
One of the secrets to cutting back on sugar is not letting your children know that they’re eating less. You can do this by making them healthy treats, without loading them with sugar; for instance, you can use sweet fruits instead. Although fruit still has sugar, it’s natural and a lot better than using refined sugar. For instance, check out our article, Healthy Popsicles for the Summer Heat, where you will see how to make healthy and sweet popsicles.
Give Them Sweet Treats Sometimes
Just because they’re cutting back on sugar, doesn’t mean that they should do it cold turkey. Desserts are meant to be enjoyed, so let your children know that they’re allowed to eat them sometimes. If not, they may binge-eat them or keep secretly eating them without you knowing. The goal should be for them to have a healthy relationship with sweets.
Watch Out for Hidden Sugar
There are many foods that children (and adults) eat that are full of sugar. For instance, dried fruit, fruit yogurts, granola bars, salsas, and flavored milk are packed with sugar. Since many people don’t realize that these types of food have sugar, their children are eating a lot of it without even knowing. When you cut back on sugar in these everyday items, you won’t feel as bad when you actually give your child a sweet treat.
A healthy diet is one of the factors that have a big impact on your child’s oral health. Aside from cutting back on sugar, make sure to see the best pediatric dentist in Bergen County every six months for a deep cleaning.
