Sweets, Juice & Sippy Cups – Healthy Teeth FAQs
Last updated on December 18th, 2015 at 11:13 am
Get your children to care for their teeth from a young age and you could help them enjoy trouble-free teeth for life.
Establishing good habits can help your child avoid oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Can I let my child have sweets?
Most children want sweets, but you can help prevent problems by making sure they don’t a large amount or very often and particularly not before bed when saliva flow reduces.
Try not to give sweets or sweet drinks as rewards.
What are the best snacks to give my child?
The best snacks are fruit and raw vegetables. Try tangerines, bananas, pieces of cucumber or carrot sticks. Other good snacks include toast, rice cakes and plain popcorn.
Dried fruit is a concentrated source of sugar and tends to stick to teeth, so only give it occasionally as a snack to children
Should I let my child have fizzy drinks?
Fizzy drinks can contain large amounts of sugar which will increase the risk of tooth decay. All fizzy drinks (both those containing sugar and sugar-free or “diet” versions) also contain acids that can erode the outer surface of the tooth.
Find out about healthier drinks.
What are the best drinks for my child’s teeth?
The best drinks for children over one year old are plain still water or plain milk. Cow’s milk is not suitable as a drink for babies under 12 months of age.
Your child should have full-fat milk (whole milk) from the age of 12 months to two years. Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced from the age of two, as long as your child is a good eater and growing well for their age. Skimmed milk can be given to children aged five and over.
Is it OK to drink fruit juice?
Even unsweetened juices contain sugars and acids, so, although it can contribute towards your 5 A DAY, try to drink no more than one glass (about 150ml) of fruit juice each day and only at mealtimes.
If your child is thirsty, it’s better to give them water than to encourage a taste for sweet drinks.
Try to avoid giving babies fruit-flavoured “baby juices”, and never give them in feeding bottles. Fruit juice should not be given to babies under six months.
Read more about healthy drinks to give your children.
Will milk at bedtime damage my child’s teeth?
Teeth are at most risk at night because there is less saliva in the mouth to protect them.
Water is the best drink to give at bedtime, but if you do give milk, don’t add anything to it. Chocolate-flavoured drinks and milkshake powder usually contain sugars, which will increase the risk of decay.
Are sugar-free medicines better for my child’s teeth?
Yes. Always ask if a sugar-free medicine is available and remind your doctor about this if you’re being given a prescription for your child. This is especially important if your child is taking long-term medication.
When should my child give up bottles?
Your child should begin moving off the bottle and on to a free flow feeder cup at six months. Bottles should be given up completely by the age of one because the teats and spouts encourage children to suck for long periods of time, which can mean the drinks that cause tooth decay stay in contact with your child’s teeth for a long time.
Here’s more information on cups for children.
Are sippy cups good for teeth?
There’s no need for a child to use a sippy cup. These are similar to a bottle, in that they require the child to suck to make them work. A free flow feeder cup is better as it doesn’t have valves and the flow of liquid is unrestricted. This means children learn to drink normally rather than by sucking.
Read more about cups for children.
Will a dummy (pacifier*) or thumb sucking harm my child’s teeth?
No, but they will encourage an open bite, which is when teeth move to make space for the dummy or thumb. They may also affect speech development.
That’s why you should avoid using dummies after 12 months of age.
Thumb sucking and dummies won’t cause permanent problems as long as the habit stops by the time your child gets their second teeth, but it can be a hard habit to break.
Discourage your children from talking or making sounds with their thumb or a dummy in their mouth, and don’t dip dummies in anything sweet such as sugar or jam.
What is fluoride varnish?
Fluoride varnish can be applied to baby teeth and adult teeth. It involves painting a varnish containing high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth about every six months to prevent decay.
It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay. From the age of three, children should be offered fluoride varnish twice a year. Younger children may also be offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it.
Read more about how to care for your child’s teeth.
Common Dental Q&As
Read the answers to the most common questions people have about dental health, including:
Editor’s Note: *clarification provided for our US readers.
From www.nhs.uk
Healthy Eating Starts with Kids in the Kitchen
Last updated on December 5th, 2015 at 11:44 pm
Cooking tasty, healthy food with your children is a great way to spend time together and for them to learn about healthy eating.
Kids love developing new skills and even fussy eaters may be tempted by dishes they’ve made themselves.
So let them have a go in the kitchen, and praise them for their efforts. They might even help with the washing-up.
Kitchen Safety
It’s essential to supervise children in the kitchen at all times.
Restrict the jobs that you give them according to their age and ability. For example, pre-schoolers might only mix dough with their hands, whereas older kids can peel and chop vegetables.
Don’t forget to tell them the hygiene and safety rules before you start. Explain why some things in a kitchen are dangerous.
Important hygiene rules include:
- Always wash your hands before you start and after handling raw meat or fish.
- Make sure surfaces are clean before any food goes near them. This is especially important if you have pets.
- Clean surfaces that have had raw meat on them immediately, such as chopping boards.
- Always check that poultry and pork are cooked all the way through. A good rule of thumb is that the meat is cooked when the juices run clear.
- Wash all fruit and vegetables.
Important safety tips include:
- Never run in the kitchen.
- Mop up spills straight away.
- Hold and use knives with great care (show children the correct way).
- Turn pan handles into the hob, but not over a flame.
- Always wear oven gloves when putting something in or getting something out of the oven.
- Watch out for fat spitting from a hot frying pan or roasting tin.
No matter how much care is taken, accidents in the kitchen do happen, especially if young children are left unsupervised. Find out more about how to prevent injuries at home.
Make it Fun
Take kids shopping with you so they can choose the ingredients themselves.
Give yourself plenty of time, and have some spare ingredients in case the children make mistakes.
Choose something that will be simple and healthy. It can be fun to make something that the children can make into shapes or decorate with a smiley face.
You can get plenty of ideas from child-friendly recipe books or even kids’ cookery programmes on TV, but to get started, try this recipe for fishcakes.
Salmon Cake Smilies
Ingredients
- 1 can (213g) of pink salmon
- 100g wholemeal (wholewheat*) breadcrumbs
- 3 spring (green*) onions, finely chopped
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 tbsp horseradish sauce
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- 4 slices of lemon
- 8 capers, drained
- 2 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Method
First, help the children get all the ingredients out of the cupboards and fridge. Then everyone can help prepare them as above. So beat the egg, chop the herbs, onions and tomatoes, slice and juice the lemon, and drain the capers.
Open the can of salmon and remove any pieces of skin or bones. Let the children flake the fish into a mixing bowl.
Now add the spring (green*) onions, breadcrumbs, egg, lemon juice, horseradish sauce, herbs, oil and pepper. The kids can then combine the mixture, with their hands or a wooden spoon, until the ingredients are mixed well.
Next, separate the mixture into four equal portions and make them into a round shape. (They can be made into fun shapes, but remember that they may not cook evenly.)
- Pre-heat the grill.
- Brush the fishcakes with a little oil.
- Grill the fishcakes for around five minutes on each side, until golden and sizzling. (Remember, it’s not safe for younger children to use the oven.)
- Let the fishcakes cool a little, then allow the kids to make smiley faces on top of the fishcakes, using a lemon slice for a mouth, half a cherry tomato for a nose and capers for the eyes.
- Serve the fishcakes with a fresh green salad, and enjoy.
Editor’s Note: *clarification provided for our US readers.
From www.nhs.uk
Personal Drive or Pedigree: Which Predicts Future Success?
Last updated on May 30th, 2017 at 09:33 pm
Did you know that more top CEOs in United States graduated from a state college than an Ivy League University such as Harvard, Yale, or Princeton?
Shocked?
Research is showing there’s a far more important predictor of a grad’s future success than the prestige of the school or faculty or even the price of tuition. What matters far more is the graduate’s “personal drive quotient.”
Nothing beats stick-to-it-ness and hard work when it comes to boosting success-absolutely nothing. And research continues to confirm that crucial fact.
What the University of Michigan Study Found
One of the most fascinating recent studies on student achievement was conducted by Harold Stevenson, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Stevenson sought to answer a question many Americans ask, “Why do Asian students do better academically than American students?”
Since 1979, Stevenson’s team of researchers conducted five intensive cross-national studies analyzing students’ achievement in the United States, China, Taiwan, and Japan. Hundreds of hours observing students and interviewing their teachers, the researchers reached a conclusion: a critical key lies in what parents emphasize about their children’s learning. Here’s the difference in parenting styles:
Asian parents strongly stress the value of effort with their children. Over and again they tell their children, “Work as hard as you can, and you will be successful.” By expecting their children to work hard, and emphasizing the attitude: “there are no excuses for poor grades, you just didn’t work hard enough,” perseverance is nurtured in Asian children. And the parental expectations had a remarkable effect on their children. The researchers found on the whole, Asian children worker longer and harder than their American counterparts because they had recognized their success was based on how hard they worked.
Instead of prioritizing how much effort our kids put into their learning attempts, research found that most American parents emphasized: “So what grade did you get?” or “How many did you miss?” or “Did you win?”
The researchers also found that the effort a child put into their process is not nearly as important to the American parent as the end product of the grade or score.
Stevenson also found American parents place a greater emphasis on their children’s innate abilities. They tend to lower their academic expectations for their children if they perceive them to have lower academic abilities.
An Asian parents’ philosophy is different: any child can succeed regardless of an IQ score or handicap–success is all a matter of how hard you are willing to work.
Just think a minute of the long term effect of stressing effort could have on our children!
Our kids would learn from an early age that there’s nothing that can stop them from succeeding if they put their heart and soul into their endeavors. They would see mistakes or failures as just temporary setbacks, instead of as excuses to quit. If they just keep on trying, and use their mistakes as learning clues, they’ll ultimately achieve their goals!
A Quick Quiz to Assess Your Own Parenting Emphasis
In an era of “no-child left untested” society, and when the ultimate measure of a student’s success is too often the all-mighty SAT score, it might be a good time to take a serious Reality Check. After all, what values we model and emphasize to our kids influences how they turn out. So push the pause button just for a second and ponder these queries:
The Parent Reality Check
- When is the last time this week you praised your children’s stick-to-it-ness?
- When your child brought home that work folder did you emphasize his grades or his effort?
- When is the last time you’ve pointed out to your children how much your value the glorious virtue of perseverance?
- If your kids had only your example to watch today (or yesterday), what would they have picked up? Would perseverance and stick-to-it-ness be one of those virtues?
- Are you more likely to praise your child’s effort or the end product?
When all is said and done, it’s not that pricey, prestigious degree that will help your child succeed in the real world.
What research says will help far more: Your child’s strong “inner drive.” The good news: perseverance can be cultivated in children. It’s all a matter of what we reinforce.
So when’s the last time you acknowledged your child for hanging in there, not giving up, giving it his all, or putting in good old, effort?
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Dr Borba’s book The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries, is one of the most comprehensive parenting book for kids 3 to 13. This down-to-earth guide offers advice for dealing with children’s difficult behavior and hot button issues including biting, tantrums, cheating, bad friends, inappropriate clothing, sex, drugs, peer pressure and much more. Each of the 101 challenging parenting issues includes specific step-by-step solutions and practical advice that is age appropriate based on the latest research. The Big Book of Parenting Solutions is available at amazon.com
What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Last updated on December 15th, 2019 at 08:24 pm
Do you think baby teeth are temporary and therefore not important? Think again. Children need strong, healthy teeth for chewing, speaking and smiling. Baby teeth also serve as placeholders for adult teeth and ensure they come in correctly.
Tooth decay in infants and young children is often referred to as baby bottle tooth decay. One of the most common causes of tooth decay in children is frequent and long-term exposure to artificially sweetened liquids, as well as those with natural sugars. These liquids include, but are not limited to, milk, formula and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth thrive on this sugar and produce acids that attack the teeth. If baby teeth don’t develop properly, your baby may develop poor eating habits, speech problems and adult teeth may grow in crooked.
How Can I Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
The good news is a few simple steps can help prevent your child from getting baby bottle tooth decay. It begins with implementing good oral hygiene at an early age.
- After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gum with a clean gauze pad or washcloth.
- Massage gums in areas without teeth.
- When your child’s first tooth comes in, begin brushing his or her teeth. Do this without toothpaste or use toothpaste that is fluoride-free. Fluoride can be dangerous if swallowed, sometimes resulting in dental fluorosis. This condition can cause discoloration or pitting on the teeth. Whenever children are old enough to learn to spit out toothpaste, usually about the age of 2 or 3, fluoride toothpaste is safe to use.
- Fluoride does help prevent cavities, so get fluoride in other ways. If your local water supply does not contain fluoride, ask your dentist about a supplement.
- Once all baby teeth have come in, begin flossing.
- DO NOT fill bottles with sugar water, soft drinks or juice. Babies under 6 months should not drink juice at all. Even juices diluted with water are a way to interest your child in sugary drinks. Bottles should only be used for formula, milk or breastmilk.
- Never let your child fall asleep with a bottle containing anything but water. It’s best for them to finish their bottle before bedtime and naptime.
- Never give your child a pacifier dipped in anything sweet. Never give honey to a baby under 12 months of age for any reason.
- Reduce the sugar in your child’s diet, especially in between meals.
- Children should be weaned off a bottle by the time they can drink from a cup, usually by their first birthday. The bottle should not be taken away too soon, however, because the sucking motion aids in the development of facial muscles and the tongue.
It’s never too late to break a bad habit, either. If your child drinks sugary liquid from the bottle, try diluting the contents with water over 2 to 3 weeks. Once that period is over, fill the bottle with water whenever possible and begin following the safety tips above.
If baby bottle tooth decay is left untreated, your child may experience pain and develop an infection. Severely decayed teeth may need to be removed. When your child’s first tooth appears, talk to your doctors about scheduling a dental visit. The key to a lifetime of good dental health is starting early! Healthy baby teeth are vital for healthy adult teeth.
Sleep Tips for Teens (Good for Younger Kids Too!)
Last updated on March 9th, 2018 at 12:02 am
Are you having trouble dragging your teenager out of bed in time for school (or even lunchtime!)? If so, follow these tips to help your teenager sleep better.
Talk to Your Teenager About Their Sleep Problems
Talk to your teenager about anything they’re worried about. This will help them to put their problems into perspective and sleep better.
Here’s some advice on how to talk to your teenager.
Promote the Benefits of Good Sleep
Emphasise to your teenager the importance of sleep. It has proven advantages for memory and performance. A minimum of eight to nine hours’ good sleep on school nights is recommended for teens.
Find out more about how much sleep children need.
Exercise for Better Sleep
It’s official – regular exercise helps you sleep more soundly as well as improving your general health. Teenagers should be aiming for at least 60 minutes every day, including activities such as fast walking and running.
Read more about how much exercise teenagers need.
Cut Out the Caffeine to Beat Insomnia
Suggest that your teenager drinks less caffeine (contained in drinks such as cola as well as tea and coffee). Too much caffeine stops them falling asleep and prevents deep sleep.
Don’t Binge Before Bedtime
Let teenagers know that eating too much or too little close to bedtime may prevent sleep due to an overfull or empty stomach. This can be a cause of discomfort throughout the night.
Read more about good foods to help your digestion.
Bedtime Routines are a Great Sleep Aid
Encourage your teenager to have a bedtime routine. Doing the same things in the same order an hour or two before slumber time can help them drift off to sleep.
Use these bedtime routine tips that are guaranteed to send your teenager to sleep.
Is the Bedroom Sleep-Friendly?
Ensure they have a good sleeping environment, ideally a room that is dark, cool, quiet, safe and comfortable. It might be worth investing in thicker curtains or a blackout blind to help insulate against the light of summertime early mornings (and late evenings).
Ban Screens in the Bedroom
If possible, don’t have a TV or computer in the bedroom as the light from the screen interferes with sleep. A music system is preferable.
Get a Comfy Bed
Ensure teens have a comfortable bed or mattress. If it’s time to get a new one, encourage them to choose it.
The Good-Night Guide for Children (PDF, 332kb) from The Sleep Council has tips for teenagers on how to choose the right bed.
Good Sleep Habits Last a Lifetime
Remember, habits learned in adolescence often become lifetime habits, so make sure they learn good sleep habits early and they’ll last a lifetime.
Here are some simple lifestyle changes proven to improve sleep.
From www.nhs.uk
Talking About Drugs with Your Child
Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 12:39 pm
It can be difficult to talk about drugs with your kids, but a few key pointers can make it a whole lot easier. Use these tips to help you talk openly about drugs with your child.
1. Do Your Homework
Make sure you understand enough about drugs, including why your child might experiment with them, so you can talk to your child in an informed way. Understanding the facts about drugs will also help you keep calm in a crisis.
Get your information from reliable, credible sources such as the drugs website FRANK. In the US, the National Institute on Drug Abuse website has detailed information on Commonly Abused Drugs.*
2. Pick a Good Time
Don’t do it before they rush off to school. Or, if they are using drugs, don’t confront them when they’re high on drugs.
3. Take the Opportunities to Talk When They Arise
It may help to do it when the subject comes up during TV programmes or in the news. Mealtimes can also be a good forum for discussion.
4. Let Them Know Your Values and Boundaries
It’s important for your children to know where you stand on drug taking. Be clear about your opinions on drugs so that they know your boundaries.
5. It’s Never Too Early to Talk About Drugs
It’s a good idea to start talking about the issue before they start experimenting with drugs. Make them feel strong and independent enough to be able to say no.
6. Avoid Scare Tactics
Your teenage children often know more people who take drugs than you do, so there’s no point in saying, “Smoking cannabis will kill you”. But if you point out that cannabis can cause mental health problems and make people forgetful and unmotivated, that will seem realistic to them and be more of a deterrent.
7. Know Their Friends
Peer pressure is the single most powerful factor in determining whether or not your child will take drugs. Get to know their friends. Invite them to the house and take an interest in what’s going on in their lives. If you have good reason to think your child’s friends are involved in drugs, you may need to support your child to find a new circle of friends.
8. Let Them Know You’re Always There for Them
That way they can be honest with you about what they’re up to and they won’t just tell you what they think you want to hear.
9. Listen as Well as Talk
Talking to teenagers can be hard. When you’re discussing drugs, don’t preach or give a speech and don’t make assumptions about what they know or do. Let your child tell you about his or her experiences. It’s often easier not to talk face-to-face, but to have a conversation side-by-side, such as when you’re driving in the car, washing up together or preparing food.
10. Persevere
Don’t be provoked or put off talking if they argue, get embarrassed or storm off. Parents’ opinions matter to their children. Revisit the subject when they’ve calmed down.
11. Make Sure They Know that the Responsibility for Their Actions Rests With Them
You’re trying to help your child make good choices in life about drugs. But only they can say no to drugs. Be sure they know you support them, but emphasise that it’s up to them to make the positive decision to be drug free.
12. Be Realistic
It’s common for teenagers to experiment with drugs. Remember that only a small proportion of those who experiment will develop a drug problem.
13. Don’t Panic
If you find out that your child has tried drugs, your first reaction may be anger or panic. Wait until you’re calm before discussing it with them, and do so in a way that shows your love and concern rather than anger.
Getting Help
If your child is using drugs and you are worried, find out about the help available in Drugs: where to get help. In the US, see the resources on the website of the Office of Adolescent Health (from the Dept. of Health and Human Services) – and “Above the Influence“, a website on drug use specifically for teens.*
Get Support for Yourself
If your child has drug problems, get support for yourself. Lots of organisations offer support to parents and carers, including those below. In the US, see the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.*
Editor’s Note: *clarification provided for our US readers.
From www.nhs.uk
