Children's Dental Health Month : editor commentary© Tracey Ryan
Jan 16, 2000
Well, another Children's Dental Health Month has passed us by, and I admit, I have had a busy one at that!
This year I participated in teaching preschoolers, , kindergartners, and first graders about the importance of taking care of their teeth. Briefly I discussed and demonstrated proper brushing , flossing and the importance of regular dental visits. However, my main focus this year was the sugar content in kid's favorite foods. I converted the sugar grams given on the dietary labels to sugar cubes and showed the kids have much sugar they were actually eating when they snacked on certain foods. For example, a 13ounce box of chocolate frosted corn pops has approximately 71 sugar cubes in it, compared to toasted whole grain oat cereal that only has 6 sugar cubes for the same 13 ounces! A 8 ounce container of chocolate milk contains 11 ½ sugar cubes, and 12 ounces of cola has a whopping 15 pieces! The children all seemed to understand that these foods were high in sugar, and that sugar contributes to decay. We then discussed what kinds of foods we should be snacking on such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses and water. The kids were great-they all listened well, stayed seated, and participated in giving answers. I feel their teachers and parents are doing a great job with them! It has been a pleasure for me to serve my community this past month. Happy flossing!
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