SUNDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDayNews) -- Here's some back-to-school meal and snacking advice to help protect your children from tooth decay -- the single most common chronic childhood illness, affecting more than half of children aged 5 to 17 years. "It is clear that junk foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many of our children," Kimberly Harms, American Dental Association (ADA) consumer advisor, said in a prepared statement. "Dentists have a saying, 'Snack and sip all day, risk decay.' Constantly bathing the teeth in sweetened beverages and unhealthy snacks is like providing an all-you-can-eat buffet for the bacteria in your mouth -- the bacteria that cause tooth decay," Harms said. The ADA offers some advice for parents on how to reduce children's tooth decay:
More information The American Dental Association has more about oral health. (SOURCE: American Dental Association, news release, August 2004) Copyright © 2004 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved. HealthDayNews articles are derived from various sources and do not reflect federal policy. healthfinder® does not endorse opinions, products, or services that may appear in news stories. For more information on health topics in the news, visit the healthfinder® health library. |