sugar free sweets/children

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but here goes:

DD (nearly 5) has low tooth enamel which the dentist believes is caused by lack of calcium in my womb (I had a thyroid tumour, was not on medication, no thyroxine going into womb when DD was there - She also as height/weight "problems" but doctor refuses to test her thyroid at the moment as she is "still growing" - She is the same height as her 3 year old cousin and is the smallest in her class but her weight matches her height so not a huge probalem at the minute, shes just petite)

Anyway, DD brushes her teeth, doesnt drink pop (honest!) but does has sweets - not loads i might add!

Anyway the dentist is capping her teeth and has advised me to limit her sugar intake (inc in meals not just sweets) and to ram as much calcium down DD's neck as possible to try and prevent her adult teeth going bad. DD is allowed sugar free sweets/biscuits - but obviously within reason.

Does anyone know where the best place to get these from? I assume they are the same as diabetic sweets? (sorry, i am very naive about sweets!)

I know many people will say to just not give her sweets (sugar free or not) but i obviously want to do whats best for her but i dont want her feeling "left out" (For example, if she is invited to a party i could always give the parents some sugar fre sweets in advance to put in her "goody bag" so she doesnt feel left out but i know she isnt chewing sugar)

Thanks

ViolaLass

Couldn't she just be given a few normal sweets in situations where you don't want her to feel left out but otherwise receive very few? Seems easier than having special sweets.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

ViolaLass wrote: »

Couldn't she just be given a few normal sweets in situations where you don't want her to feel left out but otherwise receive very few? Seems easier than having special sweets.

She doesnt really have that many now - i personally dont give her sweets that often but my mother and grandmother give her sweets when we visit. I've spoken o them and my mum understands but my nan bless her is in her 80's and considers me "mean" if i dont give DD sweets and tells me "social services will come after you for being mean" :rotfl: I want to get a few so i can give them to mum and gran so that if they do want to give her a sweet then they can and i will feel a lot happier, and DD won't notice a thing, likewise at parties etc it would be a lot easier than having to go through the "loot" bag before DD gets her mitts on them (The parents know she has something wrong with her teeth and because i would be the one forking out for the sugar free sweets i dont see this being a problem) if that makes sense

Ich_2

They are hard to come by but Morrisons do have them, look for small boxes

Nicki

Im pretty sure Holland and Barrett do some, as do the bigger branches of Boots. But I would think very carefully before giving them to her. The most popular substance they use to replace the sugar is a laxative and can cause serious tummy upsets. You might also want to read this paper from the NHS which suggests that most sugar free sweets cause as much damage to dental enamel as regular ones.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/10October/Pages/acidic-sweeteners-may-erode-teeth.aspx

ETA - have remembered the name of the most common sweetener in sugar free sweets and chocolates. Its called maltitol if you want to google for more info about it, or there is a summary of the pros and cons here:

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/maltitol.htm

peachyprice

One of my son's had very weak milk teeth. I just didn't buy any, at all, the house was a sweet free zone. When he went to parties he was allowed sweets, and really enjoyed them because they really were a treat, I just made sure I brushed his teeth after he'd had them. It was the easiest way to deal with it.

You'll just have to de diplomatic with your Nan, tell her you'll give them to her later so she doesn't spoil her dinner and only let DD have the odd one now and then.

As mentioned above, I'd steer clear of the sugar free sweets, they're really bad for her tum.

You'll be glad to hear he's had no probs with this adult teeth, they're perfect, no fillings at all.

saidan

just don't give her any - it is possible!

our children do not have any sweets at all. never. not even from party bags.

they also do not eat biscuits etc

this is due to their teeth.

they eat a very healthy diet - and after fruit eat cheese as the alkaline in it helps reduce the acid on the teeth from the fruit.

to be honest if you have been advised to limit sugar and her teeth are being capped, looking like a 'mean' mum should be the last of your worries!

(parents making party bags tend to not put sweets in my boys bags as they know they can't have them, and i've never asked them not to - if they are in them i simply take them out and say sorry we don't eat sweets.....)

brook2jack

If your daughter is small for her age do not give her sugar free sweets. Children are particularly sensitive to the laxative effect of these sweets.

She can eat what she likes with a meal as this counts as one acid attack (you want a maximum of three acid attacks a day and acid is produced from sweet things), but you have to make sure what she eats in between times is sugar free and that includes yoghourts, fruit juices, dried fruit etc.

Her gran will think it cruel if she has to have teeth removed because she is not following a sensible diet.

You are not saying she can never eat sweets , just they have to be at the end of a meal and preferably not chews ,stickies etc.

A party bag doesnt need to contain sweets and many children have various conditions where diet restrictions are alot more severe. Stand your ground and stay away from sugar free sweets. When she gets older though sugar free chewing gum, particularly containing xylitol is very good as it stimulates saliva which helps neutralise acids and xylitol helps to slow down decay.

LilMissEmmylou

you can get sugar free options in things like polos very easily in tesco.

Boots do sucky sweets too, some that taste like worthers originals and other that are strawberry flavour

suki1001

I think sugar free sweeteners are dangerous and would avoid them at all cost. Then again some experts think sugar is lethal, not just for teeth, but is the whole reason we have such an obese nation. You say she doesn't drink pop, but does she drink fruit juice or eat lots of fruit, because these can be really bad for our teeth and just as bad if not worse than sweets. Rather than concentrating on sweets she has rarely, look at the hidden things she might eat, that could add to this.

maire1

I'd avoid sugar free sweets, especially for a child. They are usually sweetened with sorbitol which can really upset the stomach (I'm diabetic and the advice I've been given is to avoid these like the plague and just have small amounts of the real stuff instead)

Remember loads of foods will weaken enamel, not just sweets but fruit etc too.