Signs That Your Child Is Consuming Too Much Sugar

Kids love sugar, and as a parent it can sometimes be difficult to monitor the amount of sugar your children are eating. However, too much sugar can definitely be a bad thing, especially for young kids. Diets high in sugar have been linked with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, ADHD, and many other disorders.

The American Heart Association has stated that children shouldn’t have more than 12 grams of added sugar in a day. If you look at the label on a can of Sprite, you’ll see that it contains around 40 grams of sugar! This is almost 4 times more than the recommended daily amount. This is why it’s so important to pay close attention to the labels on the foods and beverages you serve your children.

Below are a few of the signs that your child is taking in too much sugar:

• Sugar cravings – Like any other addictive substance, the more sugar you eat, the more sugar you’ll crave. If your child has intense sugar cravings or is frequently snacking on sugary treats, it may be time to reevaluate his or her diet.
• Frequent cavities – Not matter how well or how often your child brushes his or her teeth, a diet high is sugar will eventually begin to cause dental cavities. The sugar sticks to your child’s vulnerable enamel and begins to eat away at it, creating small holes. Once these holes, or cavities, are formed, it’s easy for bacteria to invade, causing tooth decay or infection.
• General mood or demeanor – Too much sugar will create sugar highs and crashes. Putting your body through these ups and downs will eventually begin to take a toll. If your child is eating too much sugar, you may notice that he or she is sluggish, moody or lethargic. These can be signs that you should cut back on the junk food and eat more fruits and veggies!

Here at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s health is important to us! To talk more about the effects of sugar, or to make an appointment for a dental cleaning and exam, please contact our Parker, CO office today!