Can juice be harmful to a child's teeth? our four year old loves orange juice, and i'm worried that the acid in it could be bad for her teeth. am i worrying over nothing, or, if there might be a problem, is there any kind of orange juice we can buy that i

Orange : Orange juice is very healthy, and much better than sodas which contain carbonic acid. The key to a healthy mouth is keeping it clean. At her age she should be brushing well twice a day and possibly flossing. Make sure she brushes well before she goes to bed, and doesn't eat or drink anything at night after she brushes. Toothpastes with flouride most certainly will also help.

Frankfort, I : Frankfort, i would be worried too. Not just over the acid, but the sugar content as well. Each of these aspects can contribute to tooth decay. There actually is orange juice with reduced acid, and others with reduced sugar. But, i don't feel this is the right answer. Parents commonly tell me they mix their children's juice (whatever flavor) with water to cut down on the sugar inorder to prevent cavities. This tends not to be effective either. The problem is not usually the quanity of sugar, it is the time of exposure to it. Therefor, the solution should be to limit exposure. Only juice during meals usually is effective. If there is sugar exposure at other times, limit the period of exposure and clean the teeth after. So drink, don't sip, and dependant on your child's age, sugarless gum is a good addition to hygiene. Hope this is helpful, michael i. Wollock, dmd, agd fellow dentistry at suburban square 610-649-0313 www.Dentistryatsuburbansquare.Com.

Yes: Juice is high in sugars and acids. Try cutting the juice with water to make it less problematic.

Yes,for many reasons: Juices are touted as a health food by industry but they add little to the diet. Raw fruit would be better. They do pattern kids into wanting something sweet to drink at all times.Parents are lulled into the idea it is safe & healthy by commercials. Unfortunately, overuse leads to dental problems & the excess calories pack on pounds. I consider them equivalent to sodas & avoid them.

Limit juices: Juices, although healthier than sodas, can be high in sugars, calories, and acidity. Drinking a lot of juice can also keep your child from eating other healthy foods. Watering it down can help, but limit juices to only 6 ounces total per day. Avoid "juice drinks" since they are high in sugar without nutritional value.

absolutely: Fruit juices have sugar in them which is the same as processed sugar to the bacteria in your mouth which lead to decay. In addition many juices are acidic which can have an affect on the ecology of the types of bacteria which grow in your mouth.

Yes: Juice in general is high in natural acids and sugars. Both of these contribute to decay. There really is no great answer in terms of making it better. Even if watered down the bacteria in the mouth can find the sugar they need to metabolize into acid and damage your childs teeth. As others have mentioned juice is nutritionally not equal to eating actual fruit. Try sticking to plain water.