Media note: A photo opportunity of Adam and Krusty from Sun 96.9 fm's "The Juice" will be available today at 11.00 am at Flynn Drive Dental Clinic.
Fruit juice and soft drinks are contributing to significant dental problems and other health issues amongst young children, according to a major report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing that in the decade to 2005 around one-in-five children aged 5-11 years had not visited a dentist once in a year.
This means that significant oral health problems are going unchecked, resulting in the need for more comprehensive treatment when care is sought.
And dental problems are not the only concern, said Flynn Drive Dentist Dr Meg Simmons.
"While fruit juice may sound healthy, its high sugar content and acidity contributes to dental cavities, abdominal pain and diarrhoea as well as malnutrition in young children and obesity in teenagers.
"Juice is one of the major causes of children having to undergo dental procedures involving general anaesthetic. It not only contains every type of sugar-sucrose, fructose, glucose and sorbitol, but has a high acid level that erodes the enamel on teeth," Dr Simmons added.
She said infants under 6 months should not be given juice at all, while juice given to children 6-12 months should be diluted with water.
"Parents should restrict drinking fruit juice in older children to small amounts. One 150mL drink of fruit juice would be more than enough and it should only be taken at meal times," Dr Simmons said.
"Children are better off drinking enough water to satisfy their thirst and eating a piece of whole fruit."
Children and teenagers up to year 12 can get free dental check-ups at the Flynn Drive Dental Clinic. Call 8951 6713 to make an appointment.
Media contact: Cameron Jackson 0401 114 113
Release date: Thursday 3 September 2009
