Sugar in medicine: children''s teeth at risk Sugar in Medicine: Children''s Teeth at Risk Parents of chronically
ill
children know all too well the agony of administering daily doses
of
medications to their infants. Giving a child three to four doses of
liquid medication daily can be a real challenge, and parents use many
tricks, such as placing the medicine in a bottle of juice or depositing
it into the mouth of a sleeping infant.
A recent study by Dr. David J. Kenny, Dentist-in-Chief at The
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, found that children with
congenital disorders or chronic illnesses are routinely given
medications which are extremely high in sugar content. This fact has
the unfortunate side-effect of causing these children to be "at risk"
for developing rampant dental decay. Many prescriptions and over-the counter (OTC) medications contain a
large amount of sugar. Cough syrups and cold preparations are consumed
in large quantity by many children under the age of three. These, along
with the prescription
medicines, have a high sugar content to improve
taste, add bulk, and to increase compliance in taking the preparations.
The role of sugar in the production of dental caries is well
documented. Most parents are very studious in limiting their children''s
intake of sugar, and are able to enforce a reasonable limit, especially
in children under age three. However, with chronically ill children,
the more serious medical concerns naturally take priority over dental
health. Just as too much candy and soft drinks will cause cavities, so,
too, will medicines enhanced by sucrose, especially when given at
regular intervals throughout the day.