HFCS can lead to tooth problems in kids
Dr. James Geshay Jr.
Bottle decay can occur if a baby is introduced to an abundance of beverages that contain high amounts of sugars. This especially happens if the bottle is full of the sugary beverages and a baby is then put to bed with a bottle or the bottle is used as a way to placate a fussy baby.
Geshay
Christmas is the time of year when everyone is enjoying quality time with families, sharing kindness and expressing gratitude.
It is also the time of year when sugary sweets are more present and little ones chow down on candy canes and have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.
While indulging in too many tempting treats can cause issues such as weight gain and over-stimulation, they also cause a major problem when it comes to children and tooth decay.
According to information provided by Dr. James B. Geshay Jr., a pediatric dental specialist, 54 percent of kindergartners, about age 5, have decay, 71 percent of third-graders, about age 8, have decay, and 81 percent of low-income children have tooth decay.
More than cane sugar, one of the biggest culprits of tooth decay is high fructose corn syrup.
HFCS, according to the Mayo Clinic, is used mostly in sodas and fruit-flavored drinks. The controversy arises because there is not enough data to establish whether the body processes it the same way as it does cane sugar.
“[The human body] digests it faster than other sugars,” said Geshay. “It gets in your bloodstream faster.”
Because HFCS gets into the bloodstream faster, the pancreas does not know how to process it properly, which can lead to insulin resistance which then causes the body to crave more of it and can create an addiction.
“Some scientists believe it is as addictive as some narcotics,” said Geshay. “There is no satiation of desire. You actually crave it. The less you get, the more you want it.”
In addition, the HFCS actually leaches calcium from the body which can make both bones and teeth brittle and lead to cavities and tooth decay.
Since HFCS is inexpensive to produce and sweeter than cane sugar, it can be found in a variety of products including breads, cereals and fruit juice.
While many parents give their children juice throughout the day, which is often full of HFCS, Geshay warns that this might not be the best option for their dental health.
Geshay illustrated the problem by offering the scenario that an adult who is given 4 ounces of juice will likely drink it all in one gulp and produce 20 minutes of acid in the mouth. A child who is given the same 4 ounces of juice in a sippy cup will take tiny sips from the cup multiple times until it is finished. Each time this child takes a drink it produces 20 minutes of acid in the mouth. The compounding of this acid can lead to an erosion of the enamel and lead to cavities and tooth decay.
He believes that children who have food and beverages with HFCS is something that is not their parents’ fault.
“It is almost like you can’t avoid it. [Food manufacturers] hide it in the label. There are dozens of names for it. When the public gets ahold of it (the new name) they change it,” said Geshay.
Even though milk also has sugar, Geshay still advises people to give their children milk at meal times and stick to zero-calorie beverages between meals. These drinks can include Kool-Aid with “Splenda,” iced tea or Crystal Lite.
Although Geshay warns his patients about the issues caused by sugar, he still understands the importance of children having an occasional treat.
“The reality is there are only 15 calories in cane sugar. If they are going to have a sweet treat, let them have natural sugar,” he said. “You need to brush your teeth after candy.”
Geshay said he cannot stress the importance brushing plays in protecting a child’s dental health, and that it is the key to combating HFCS and other sugars.
By starting early by wiping a baby’s gums with a warm wash cloth to demonstrating proper brushing techniques with toddlers, parents can help guide their children down the proper path to good dental health.