| Here are some key diet messages that you can implement including the rationale behind them:
1) Restrict sugar in food and drinks to no more than 4 times a day
Rationale: Sugary food should be confined to mealtimes – studies have confirmed eating sugary food between meals increases tooth decay.
2) Drink only still water or milk
Rationale: We should drink 6-8 glasses of water /fluids (1.2L) to prevent dehydration.
Cows milk is not decay causing but drinks containing sugars (fruit juice, milkshakes, smoothies, pop) are.
Children aged 1-2 should drink full fat cows milk (extra calories and vitamins A and D) After 2 years semi-skimmed milk may be gradually introduced – Skimmed milk is only suitable after 5 years as it has too few calories to sustain infants.
3) Snack on sugar-free snacks eg fresh fruit and occasionally cheese
Rationale: Fruit contains intrinsic sugars, at normal consumption levels there is no evidence that it is decay causing. Dried fruit or pureed fruit (as in smoothies and fresh juice) has extrinsic sugars and is decay causing.
Small pieces of cheese eaten after a meal can provide some protection against decay, but they should not be eaten in large amounts as they contain fats.
4) Don’t use fruit juices, pop or sweetened milk in feeding bottles
Rationale: All these drinks contain sugars and the risk of decay,
If the child has a bottle at night it should contain only water
There is no saliva to protect teeth at night and drinks left in contact for long periods may cause decay
5) Nothing to eat after brushing at night
Rationale: If you eat or drink after brushing you may leave sugar in the mouth which will increase the risk of decay.
If you brush with fluoride containing paste, spit and do not rinse to allow the maximum benefit from fluoride.
6) Remember sugar can be hidden
Rationale: Many processed foods contain sugars (e.g. some yogurt, crisps, quavers, tomato ketchup, all cereals except shredded wheat)
Check the label to be sure there is no sugar.
Advice for families:
Aim for no more than 4 sugar attacks a day mainly at meal times
Avoid sugar just before bedtime, use a sugar free medicine
Milk and sugar free squash(weak) are safe between meals
Try to keep biscuits and sweets as part of a meal
Try sweetener in tea and coffee.
Remember cereals and hot chocolate already have sugar in them keep them to meal times.
Milk shake has a lot of sugar in it – keep it to meal times
Advice for babies:
Breast feeding is best, but if not possible, infant formula milk is appropriate.
Sugar should not be added to food/drink as in encourages a sweet tooth.
Bottles should not be used at night – but if they are water only.
When using medicine, get sugar free.
Babies do not need fruit juice or squash – but if is used dilute 1 to 10 and do not in a bottle. It should not be placed in comforters.
Weaning (introduce solid foods) should start from 6 months and use sugar-free weaning foods.
‘Low’ and ‘reduced sugar’ products are still decay causing, ‘sugar-free’ is safe. Artificial sweeteners are not recommended in children under 3. |
