Parents can protect their child's oral hygiene by providing them with a school lunchbox full of healthy food.
During that frantic morning rush, it can be all too tempting to pack your child off to school with a lunchbox containing a cobbled together collection of crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars but this short-term fix will damage their teeth in the long-term.
Research by the National Institute of Health revealed that the average American consumes approximately 147 pounds of sugar per year and the typical school leaver has over three decayed teeth thanks to eating unhealthy lunches at school.
Tooth decay is accelerated by eating sugary snacks such as sweets, chocolate and pop drinks because these foods combine with bacteria to create acid which erodes teeth enamel and results in damage.
Eating lunch which contains sticky food is particularly bad as chewy sweets stick to teeth for a prolonged amount of time meaning that they have a greater opportunity to wear away enamel.
Taking the time to carefully plan your child's lunch so that it includes fresh fruit and vegetables is a great way to make certain that they leave the home with a lunchbox containing food.
Cutting down on the amount of sugar a child consumes is also likely to improve their school performance because eating sweets provides a temporary rush which is quickly followed by feelings of lethargy that affect classroom concentration levels.
Substituting sugary snacks such as chocolate bars and sweets for fruit like apples and carrots as well as swapping fizzy pop for water will go a long way to ensuring that a child's smile is protected from decay.
Parents do not have to feel too guilty when including the occasional sweet treat in their child's lunch because unhealthy snacks can be acceptable in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
It is better to educate a child about the benefits of eating healthy alternatives to junk food rather than banning them from eating sugary snacks because this will only encourage them to consume these in private.
A healthy diet combined with good oral hygiene habits such as regular brushing and flossing as well as bi-annual trips to the dentist for preventive care can prevent almost all forms of tooth decay.
Parents who are concerned about their children's teeth should visit their dentist to discuss what the best way is for them to improve their oral hygiene.