Breakfast is essential for keeping teath healthy

Studies have shown that if we have tooth decay as babies, we are more likely to get decay in our permanent teeth, which normally start to appear at around the age of five or six. And, if a child loses milk teeth early, through decay, it can cause permanent teeth to grow crookedly. This leads to overcrowding and can make a brace necessary.

According to figures from the British Association for the Study of Dentistry, tooth decay among children is still common. More than 40 per cent of five-year-olds in England and Wales have at least one rotten tooth, rising to 50 per cent in Scotland.

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria found in the mouth feed on the sugar in food and drink, producing an acid that attacks the enamel of the tooth's surface. While all sugary foods do damage, the length of exposure to sugar is crucial. Giving a child a pudding after a meal is much less harmful than allowing him or her access to sweet drinks throughout the day.

Parents are advised to take their children along when they have a dental appointment, from the earliest age, so they can grow accustomed to the environment and don't develop a fear of the dentist. From about the age of two, the dentist can have an informal look in the child's mouth, again, building up confidence for later life, reports telegraph.co.uk

According to webindia123.com a new study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that eating breakfast, plenty of fruits and veggies may be as critical as a toothbrush, toothpaste and a good dentist when it comes to having and retaining a healthy smile.

According to Health Scout, the study found that children who don't eat breakfast every day have higher levels of tooth decay when compared to those who eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, co-author of the study, said, "Kids who don't eat breakfast tend to snack more."

Shenkin and his colleagues used data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 1988 to 1994, to investigate the relationship between healthful eating practices and tooth decay in more than 4,000 preschoolers, aged 2 to 5.

The study found that baby teeth were at a greater risk of decay in the children with poor eating habits. The researchers said that dental health education should include encouraging parents to help their children eat better.