Can Fruit Cause Tooth Decay?

You probably already know that fruit is a delicious, satisfying, and healthy snack that is loaded with antioxidants, fiber, and water, but did you know certain fruits can cause tooth decay? We all want what is best for our children’s health, but when it comes to fruit, you’ll need to balance their health needs with what is best for their teeth.

Some foods, including certain fresh fruits, can promote tooth decay, so spare yourself and your child from any extra trips to the dentist by making food choices that keep their dental health in mind.

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Can Fruit Cause Tooth Decay?

Imagine telling your child they are going to need to visit a pediatric dentist to get a filling. Many parents do just that every day. Here in the US over 40% of kids show signs of tooth decay, and over 20% in the 6-11 age group already have their first cavity—or more!

Understanding how sugar affects teeth can help you avoid dental fillings in children. Sugary foods can produce tooth-damaging bacteria and acids that will wreak havoc on your enamel. This is caused when the acid the bacteria produces works to break the sugar down, leaving the acid on your teeth where it will begin working to dissolve the surface. The good news is the sugar found in whole fruits is much less concentrated. It is a healthful choice for a snack, but remember each time we eat a sugar or starch our mouth can be damaged by the acid attack, so it is important to structure snack times.

Teach Your Kids About Dental Health: Tooth Decay: An ‘Eggciting’ Science Experiment for Kids

Is Citrus Bad for Your Teeth?

Citrus fruits provide your child with the Vitamin C they’ll need to produce collagen that will help them have strong bones, and it will also help then to heal their scrapes and other minor injuries faster. Vitamin C can also help your child to maintain healthy gums; however, too much citrus fruit can be bad for your child’s teeth.

Citrus fruit and other acidic foods can eat away at your tooth’s enamel. The loss of enamel exposes the inner layers of the tooth that were meant to be protected. Tooth sensitivity is a painful condition, and it could be in your child’s future if they eat too much citrus fruit or even hold these fruits in their mouth for too long.

Best Fruit for Teeth

If you are looking for a fruit to give your child that will encourage dental health, look no further than the apple. Apples promote dental health by stimulating the flow of saliva, which can actually lower the levels of bacteria, reducing the likelihood of cavities in the process by washing food particles away. As the old saying goes, an apple a day really will keep the doctor away. Or, in this case, the dentist. Encourage your child to eat an apple for a snack every day—just be sure they swish their mouth out with water afterward!

List of Foods That Cause Tooth Decay

Chances are, many of these foods that cause tooth decay appear on your child’s daily menu.

• Fruit juice
• Citrus fruit
• Fruit snacks
• Gummy vitamins
• Bananas
• Soda
• Jelly
• Sugary cereals
• Granola bars
• Candy and chocolate
• Fruit canned in syrup
• Chips and crackers
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Ketchup

Related: 6 Sticky Cavity Causing Foods [Infographic]

How to Reduce Your Risk of Tooth Decay After Eating Fruit

Don’t worry, you won’t have to decide between giving your children healthy fruit to eat AND promoting excellent dental health. To enjoy the best of both worlds, make sure citrus fruit and other potentially harmful foods do not stay on your child’s teeth for long.

Encourage brushing after snacks, and when that isn’t possible have your child rinse their mouth out thoroughly with water. Read labels and be aware of the sugar content of the foods your child loves, even when the food isn’t something you’d think of as sweet and sugary. You can also avoid tooth decay by offering your child milk and water with their snacks and skipping the juice aisle altogether. When it comes to your child’s dental health, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. Your best bet is to make your child’s snacks yourself so you can be sure of the sugar content.