Sweet but Risky: How Refined Sugar Affects Children at Different Developmental Stages

From the first birthday cake to post-school biscuits, sugar is stitched into most children’s routines. Whether it’s in the form of packaged snacks, juices, or celebratory sweets, refined sugar is often part of childhood. While occasional indulgence is not the issue, regular and early exposure to refined sugar creates risks that build silently over time.

As a dental professional who frequently treats children, I’ve seen how sugar affects not only teeth but also eating behaviour, immunity, and even school performance. The impact varies depending on the child’s age and stage of development, which makes understanding sugar’s timeline especially important for parents.

Refined sugar refers to sugars that are extracted, processed, and stripped of all nutrients. Common sources include:

These sugars are present in:

Unlike natural sugars found in fruits and milk, refined sugar offers calories without nutrition.

Refined sugar has no role in infancy. Babies are born with an undeveloped gut and should not be exposed to processed sugars. Introducing sweeteners too early:

Tip: Avoid sweetening cow’s milk or ragi porridge. Let natural taste develop.

At this stage, children are learning to explore textures and flavours. Introducing sugar here:

Dentally, this is when early childhood caries often begins, particularly if children are offered sweetened liquids in bottles or sippers.

Clinical Insight: Most toddlers I treat with tooth decay have a visible sugar routine, sweetened milk at bedtime, or biscuits and health drinks during the day.

Children in this age group become more social eaters, and what they see in tiffins or birthday parties influences their preferences. Frequent sugar intake now:

At this stage, children also start self-feeding and may sneak sugar from kitchen shelves or friend’s lunchboxes.

Oral hygiene often becomes inconsistent, and if sweet snacks are not followed by brushing or rinsing, cavities form quickly.

As children grow more independent, their exposure to sugary products often rises. This is the age where:

Sugar overconsumption here can also interfere with immunity and concentration, making children more prone to infections or poor focus in school.

Observation: Children who frequently miss school due to illness or show signs of sluggishness often have an unbalanced, sugar-heavy diet.

This is when habits start mimicking those of adults. Sugar intake may now come from:

While physical activity increases, so does stress, peer pressure, and irregular meals. Excess sugar during these years:

This group also tends to underplay dental pain, leading to larger cavities and early dental procedures.

Refined sugar does more than cause dental issues. It contributes to:

As a dentist, here are early indicators of sugar overload I frequently notice:

Parents often fear that reducing sugar will make food unappealing. But it’s possible to offer variety and taste without refined sweeteners.

“In my practice, I often tell parents, it’s not about cutting all sweets but knowing how often they show up. A treat once a week won’t harm. But a sweet after every meal? That’s a problem.” Children don’t need to be deprived but they do need guidance. Let sugar be something to enjoy occasionally, not something they need daily to feel satisfied or energetic. Encouraging whole foods, modeling good eating habits, and paying attention to oral hygiene are the best tools we have to protect our children both inside and out.