Experts Offer Back-to-School Meal and Snacking Advice

Newswise — With an estimated 54 million students heading back to the nation's elementary and high schools, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) remind parents that what their children eat, and how often they eat, have a dramatic impact on their oral and overall health.

"It is clear that 'junk' foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many of our children," says Kimberly Harms, D.D.S., American Dental Association consumer advisor. "Dentists have a saying, `Snack and sip all day, risk decay.' Constantly bathing the teeth in sweetened beverages and unhealthy snacks is like providing an all-you-can-eat buffet for the bacteria in your mouth—the bacteria that cause tooth decay."

"Healthy eating habits in childhood and teen years promote optimal health, growth and intellectual development into adulthood," explains AAP President Carden Johnston, M.D., FAAP. "They also prevent health problems such as iron deficiency anemia, eating disorders, tooth decay and obesity."

According to Dr. Johnston, overweight and obesity among the nation's children and adolescents aged six to 17 years have more than doubled over the past several decades.

Dental caries or tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, affecting more than 50 percent of youths aged 5 to 17 years, says Dr. Harms.

"Research has shown that consuming foods high in sugar or starch feed the bacteria that cause tooth decay. As a result, the bacteria excrete acid, which attacks tooth enamel," explains Dr. Harms. "Tooth decay is progressive and, when left untreated, can result in acute infections, pain, costly treatment and tooth loss." Chronically malnourished children score lower on standardized achievement tests, according to Dr. Johnston. "When children are hungry or malnourished, they have difficulty resisting infection and therefore are more likely than other children to become sick, miss school and fall behind in class," he says.

ADA tips to reduce 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 fluoridated 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.

AAP tips to improve food choices and increase exercise:

Smart food choices help your child's overall physical and oral health.· More fruits and vegetables and less fat and sweets.

· Pack a healthy lunch " with items that are healthy and fun to eat such as yogurt, string cheese, carrot sticks and peanut butter-filled celery.

· Get involved with your school to help limit access to unhealthy foods by offering healthier menus and eliminating junk food vending machines.

Make exercise a part of your children's lifestyle. · 30 minutes of aerobic activity every day or at least three to four times per week.

Make it fun so your child doesn't even realize they're exercising.

Both professional health organizations also say it is just as important to examine the mouth as the rest of the body and encourage parents to make dental exams a regular part of their children's back-to-school routine.

The ADA is the nation's oldest national dental association, representing more than 149,000 members. It advocates for the public's health and promotes the art and science of dentistry. For more information about other oral health topics, visit www.ada.org.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (http://www.aap.org) is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.