Unit 2: Health Effects of Complementary Feeding

The major dietary risk factor for the formation of dental caries is sugar. Sucrose is more likely than any other sugar to cause dental caries because it can form glucans that allow bacteria to stick to teeth (Agostoni et al. 2008). The risk of dental caries increases if sugars are consumed at high frequency and are in a form that remains in the mouth for longer periods (Bowen et al. 1997). As teeth begin to erupt at approximately 6 months of age, prolonged exposure of the teeth to the sugars in juice is a major contributing factor to dental caries (American Academy of Pediatrics 2008).
    
The consumption of juice and sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to the development of dental caries (American Academy of Pediatrics 2008). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that fruit juices offer no nutritional benefit for infants younger than 6 months and no nutritional benefit over whole fruit for infants older than 6 months of age (American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition 2001). Please refer to Unit 3 for further information on the recommendations of fruit juice during the complementary feeding period.