One of the many duties parents face is protecting their children from exposure to harmful substances such as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. One element which unfortunately does not appear on many “black lists” is sugar. This supposedly benign substance is the cause of much grief and expense in regards to children’s (and adult’s) teeth. Most people acknowledge that excess consumption of soda or candy is detrimental to anyone’s dentition, but there are many other sources which contribute to tooth decay.
Breakfast cereal is an item which needs to be monitored. Most TV cartoon programs, which are a major information source for kids, are sponsored by breakfast cereals which cater to the youngsters and therefore have a high sugar content. Also, items such as fruit leather, and many fruits juices, are offenders. Even naturally occurring fruit sugars, which may seem healthy, will cause cavities if consumed in excess.
Probably the greatest disservice to our youth is providing access to pop and junk food in the corridors of our schools via vending machines. It is hard to justify this practice, since one could not envision alcohol or tobacco being offered similarly. Therefore, the public should get involved by demanding that these vending machines be removed.
Since we are unable to monitor our children’s activities around the clock, we should inform relatives, friends, or other caregivers to respect our wishes that the children not be “corrupted” with foods and beverages which we may prohibit at home. Typically, these items are offered as a “reward” or treat on special occasions. Hopefully this trend can be reversed, and we may educate our children so that they will adopt a healthy lifestyle, and avoid the consequences of indulging in these harmful substances.
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Pediatrics
