Sugary beverages such as fruit juices, soft drinks, pop, sweetened iced tea, chocolate and strawberry flavored milk are at the top of the list of foods that promote tooth decay and incorrectly top the list of all energy drinks. Because sweetened beverages also raise blood glucose levels, they also fuel the rise in undesirable weight gain in children and adults.

Clients of my diet coaching practice who are parents of overweight and obese children sometimes share that they have had sealants applied to their children’s teeth to prevent cavities.

I prefer to avoid dental sealants for children, as they are potent cancer-causing xenoestrogens. I also prefer to use flouride-free toothpaste, water, supplements, and dental treatments. Fluoride is a metabolic poison. There is research to indicate that it will actually damage your teeth. There is enough fluoride in a tube of toothpaste to kill a small child. That is why there is a warning label on the back of your tube of toothpaste!

For adults it can be a simple thing to avoid drinking and eating sugary snacks and brushing after meals and snacks. It’s more challenging to monitor the snacking and brushing habits of children. “Tell, show and do” techniques should be employed by your dental team and by parents in the home. These techniques put children at ease and provide a positive experience in the dental office. They reinforce continuing the practice at home for all including the obese child.