In the Know for You to Know

Summer is in full swing. Long days, hot weather, fun times, and lots of cold icy drinks.

All this fun in the sun makes children thirsty. How do you keep up and make sure they’re drinking the right beverage?

What is the best thing for children to drink? The answer is simple, water.

Yes, it’s water.

These are the reasons why water needs to be your go to summer drink for your child ~

#1. Juice, Soda, Sports Drinks or Water

All beverages are not created equal. A serving of juice, soda or a sports drink contains extra sugar and calories while not quenching your child’s thirst. What really happens is they keep getting thirstier and asking for more.

Water has ZERO added sugar and ZERO calories. It’s also refreshing and quenches their thirst with the first cup.

Are you worried that plain water is boring? Give your water flair. Dress up your water by drinking it icy cold (remember not to chew on the ice) which makes their cup taste better; so does adding slices of cucumber, a sliced berry or cherry to your water pitcher. Every one can have a turn choosing their water mix-in.

Remember to keep the cucumber, berry, cherry in the pitcher, so it stays fresh and tasty for everyone’s cup!

#2. Water Gives Your Child Strong Teeth

With Zero added sugar and Zero calories water is already going a long way to building strong teeth and healthy mouths.

What can make this better? Fluoride in your water. Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter.

No added sugar, no calories and fluoride all add up to an easy and one of the most beneficial ways you can help prevent cavities.

#3. Keep Those Cavity Causing Bacteria In Check

Drinking all that juice (and yes even 100% juice), soda, and sports drinks leaves a lot of sugar on your child’s teeth. The cavity causing bacteria in their mouth love all this sugar. Not only does the bacteria eat the sugar, the result is the outer layers of enamel on their teeth are also worn away.

Water washes away the residual food in their mouth and dilutes any sugar residues that are left behind.

While you’ll need to make sure their teeth are brushed 2 Minutes 2X’s a Day and floss every night before brushing, making water your choice to drink goes a long way to happy healthy teeth, smiles and children.

Is All Water The Same?

The best water for your child to drink contains fluoride, is unsweetened and uncarbonated.

The reasons why are because ~

1. Water with fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce the risk of cavities,
2. Uncarbonated water is better for teeth as opposed to carbonated water which can weaken tooth enamel,
3. Water should be unsweetened because added sugars increase the risk of cavities.

How To Convince Your Child To Drink Water

There are 2 challenges for parents when you’re trying to have your child drink water.

The 1st is actually getting them to drink water. The 2nd is finding ways to make it fun, so they’ll keep drinking water.

These are some tips on how to encourage your child to keep drinking water ~

• Let them choose their own water bottle or special cup,
• Add a piece of fresh fruit like strawberry or cherry to the water pitcher,
• Make ice cubes with pieces of fresh strawberry or cherry,
• If fruity isn’t their style, try adding slices of cucumber or a sprig of mint to the water for a refreshing taste,
• Buy fun straws for them to drink with,
• Make a sticker chart with daily or weekly water drinking goals. Every cup of water that is finished to the last drop earns a sticker. Count up the stickers weekly or monthly. When the goal is reached, it’s time to reward your child’s healthy drinking with a prize.
• Remember your children are watching and learn by your example. Set an example for your child by drinking more water yourself.

What’s in Your Water Bottle Mom and Dad?

Let’s face it children are always watching what their parent is doing. With your encouragement, daily routine and positive reinforcement your child can learn to make water their beverage of choice.

What’s in your child’s cup? bottle? drink bottle? Is it a struggle for your child to drink water? Do they take a sip of water, hand the cup back to you and then ask for something else? Can you count on one hand how many cups of water your child will drink in a week? in a month? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!