Shree Jayam Oral and Dental Clinic

As parents, we want to give our children tasty and filling snacks. But here’s the shocking truth — many common snacks are loaded with hidden sugars that can harm your child’s teeth and overall health. 🍫 The Sugar Reality That colourful biscuit packet, sweetened drink, or chocolate bar in your child’s lunchbox may look harmless. But together, they can add up to 12+ sugar cubes in one meal — more than half of a child’s recommended daily sugar limit! Excess sugar not only increases the risk of tooth decay but also affects energy levels, concentration, and long-term health. 🦷 How Sugar Affects Your Child’s Teeth When sugar meets bacteria in the mouth, it creates acids that attack the tooth enamel. Over time, this leads to cavities, pain, and even early tooth loss. Children’s teeth are especially vulnerable because their enamel is thinner than adults’. ✅ The Better Choice – Healthy Snack Swaps Instead of filling lunchboxes with sugary snacks, try these dentist-approved options: Fresh frui...

  Introduction Thumb sucking and pacifier use are common comforting habits for infants and toddlers. While they are completely normal in the early years, continuing these habits beyond a certain age can affect the growth of teeth and jaws. As parents, it’s important to know when these habits are harmless and when they may need attention from a dentist. Why Do Children Suck Their Thumb or Use a Pacifier? Provides comfort and security. Helps babies self-soothe and fall asleep. Natural reflex in infancy – most children outgrow it between 2–4 years of age. When Does It Become a Problem? Occasional thumb sucking is usually not harmful. However, persistent or forceful sucking beyond 4 years of age may cause: Protruding front teeth (buck teeth) Open bite (front teeth don’t meet when biting) Crossbite (teeth don’t align properly) Changes in jaw growth and palate shape Difficulty in speech (lisping) Pacifier vs. Thumb – Which Is Better? Pacifiers can be easier to stop, since they can be tak...