SUGAR LURKS IN LUNCHBOX FAVORITES AND ON CAFETERIA LINES 

PARSIPPANY, NJ (August 23, 2004) – Parents who are already thinking about back-to-school supplies are encouraged to put another important item on their shopping list for the new school year: healthy lunches and snacks.

The foods we eat impact our oral health and overall health. But it can be a challenge to arm kids headed for the classroom with healthy lunches and snacks because hidden sugars lurk in many popular foods. Parents must be both informed and creative in making choices at the grocery store to keep their children's oral health in check.

Tooth decay is the most chronic childhood disease, affecting more than 50 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 17. The burden of the disease restricts activities in school, work and home, and often significantly diminishes the quality of life. Parents who teach their kids healthy eating habits at an early age give them an advantage in fighting tooth decay as well as health problems such as iron deficiency anemia, eating disorders and obesity.

Hidden Sugars
When it comes to foods that are high in sugar content, candy, cakes and cookies are obvious offenders, but other sources aren't as well known. Carbohydrates found in certain cafeteria staples such as breads, pizza and nachos quickly break down into sugar and, as far as the mouth is concerned, can have an impact similar to sugary treats.

There are also seemingly healthy foods that can harm teeth in ways that might surprise parents. Popular "nutritious" lunchbox items such as raisins and dried fruits spend more time in the mouth because they're sticky and hard to chew, leaving more time for sugars to damage teeth.

According to Dr. Scott Navarro, dental director, Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, parents should read food labels closely to understand just how much sugar children are putting into their mouths. "Keep an eye out for and limit ingredients such as white sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses and syrups, as well as for ingredients with names like fructose, sucrose, glucose, corn syrup and maltose. All are various forms of sugar."

"It's not realistic to expect anyone - least of all children and teens - to completely eliminate sugar and carbohydrates from their diet, but understanding their sources and maintaining good oral hygiene can help control sugar's negative effects," said Dr. Navarro.

The good news is that there are many foods that won't coat kids' teeth in sugar, including cheese, eggs, meats, plain nuts, peanut butter-filled celery, fresh fruits and vegetables, white milk, plain yogurt, unsweetened breads or cereals, and popcorn. Fruits and vegetables that contain a high volume of water including pears, melons, celery and cucumbers make great choices and help rinse natural sugars away from enamel surfaces.

The American Dental Association offers the following tips for reducing tooth decay:

• Sugary foods and drinks consumed as part of a meal are less harmful than as a snack. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.

• Limit between-meal snacks. If craving a snack, choose nutritious foods and consider chewing sugarless gum afterward. Sugarless gum increases saliva flow and helps wash out food and decay producing acid.

• Drink more water. Consuming optimally fluoridates water can help prevent tooth decay. If you're choosing bottled water, check the label for fluoride content.

• Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily.

"Healthy eating can be difficult, especially with today's families' often hectic lifestyles that make fast food a popular selection," said Dr. Navarro. "But with a few sugar-wary guidelines and proper oral hygiene, parents can help maintain their children's good oral health and, in turn, help promote good overall health all year long."

Sources:
American Dental Association, www.ada.org
www.aap.org

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.