Are My Kids Eating Too Much Sugar?

If you’re wondering whether your kids are eating too much sugar, there are a few signs to look out for. And this is an important question to ask! It’s not a secret that a high-sugar diet contributes to cancer, ADHD, diabetes, and heart disease. Sugar can also be a tough habit to quit, especially when it’s established in childhood. If you limit sugar early enough for your kids, you can break this harmful sugar cycle! 

Signs That Your Children Are Eating Too Much Sugar 

According to the American Heart Association, children should only be consuming up to 12 grams of sugar per day. To put this in perspective, a single box of Juicy Juice apple juice contains 23 grams, almost twice the allotted daily amount for kids! For this reason, it’s a good idea to check the labels on your children’s snacks. 

Below are a few signs that your kids are consuming too much sugar: 

• Cravings – Sugar is extremely addictive. Like any addictive substance, the more you get, the more you crave. If your child is continuously snacking on or asking for sugary snacks, he or she may be developing a sugar addiction. 
• Attitude changes – If your child experiences frequent attitude or demeanor changes, this can be a sign of a fluctuating blood sugar level. For example, if your child goes from energetic one minute to moody, sluggish, or lethargic the next, sugar highs and lows could be to blame. 
• Dental cavities – Lastly, sugar is the number one cause of dental cavities in children. If your kids are developing multiple cavities, their diet might be the cause. Even if your kids are diligent about brushing and flossing, consuming too much sugar will result in cavities anyway. These sugars cling to and damage the teeth before your child even has a chance to brush. 

If the above signs seem familiar to you, it may be time to reevaluate your family’s sugar intake. To make an appointment for your child to receive a dental cleaning and check for cavities, please call Jennifer Lopez Dental. Our family dental office is based here in beautiful Miami, FL.