As a young mother, I was reasonably ignorant when raising my firstborn. My biggest regret is that I didn't help her take better care of her teeth. Like many people, I didn't realise the importance of baby teeth, resulting in long-term dental problems. Recently, my daughter got married and some of my tears were for the beautiful, glistening smile she presented to the cameras. Ever since I realised the dental damage I had caused, I had been saving for my daughter to have cosmetic dentistry. The results are remarkable. During the course of this journey, I have learnt a lot about caring for children's teeth and corrective procedures that can be undertaken when issues arise. I am sure many of you would be interested in the latest knowledge and techniques that are available to prevent and repair dental complications. I'm Margret Devlin - thanks for visiting.
Canker sores are one of the most common and painful oral health problems. A canker sore is a small ulcer which can affect people of all ages. If you have a child who is suffering from canker sores, you may be wondering what is causing them. Canker sores are often caused by something which stimulates or irritates the gums, lips or cheek tissues. Many children develop canker sores that are triggered by food. Below is a guide to 5 foods which can cause canker sores.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges could be the cause of your child's canker sores. These fruits contain alkaline juices which can irritate the soft tissues of your child's mouth, triggering canker sores. If your child has existing canker sores, the juice from citrus fruits may make them worse.
Tomato Sauce
Lots of families enjoy tomato-based dishes such as spaghetti or soup. Although you may not be able to taste it, tomatoes contain acidic juices. These juices can trigger or irritate canker sores.
Strawberries
You may believe that eating fruit is good for your child. Although this is broadly correct, when it comes to canker stores strawberries many be causing damage to their dental health. Again, the culprit here is alkaline juices. Strawberries contain alkaline juices which can lead to the development of canker sores. If you child is suffering from canker sores, you should avoid strawberries.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains many additional ingredients such as nuts and milk. If you child is allergic to these ingredients, it may cause them to develop canker sores. While it may be difficult to prevent your child from eating any chocolate at all, if you want to prevent the development of canker sores, you should consider cutting down on the amount of chocolate they consume.
Soft Drinks
Everyone knows that sugary soft drinks can cause tooth decay. However, drinking too much soda could also be causing your child to develop canker sores. Soft drinks contain ingredients such as phosphoric acid and corn syrup, which can inflame the soft tissues of the mouth. You should cut back on the amount of soda you allow your child to drink and encourage them to drink water.
If you have any questions about canker sores or concerns about your child's dental health, you should book an appointment with a paediatric dentist. They will be able to assess your child's oral health and offer treatment and advice.
Share19 October 2016
