Where in the U.S. Do Children Consume the Most Sugary Snacks?

How often should kids get sugar? According to the American Heart Association, children should consume less than 25 grams, or 6 teaspoons, of added sugar daily. Sugary drinks are considered a major contributor to the child obesity epidemic — one 20-ounce bottle of soda alone can contain around 16 teaspoons of added sugar, which is nearly three times as much as the daily recommendation! Beyond the harm to overall health, consuming sugary foods and beverages is a leading cause of cavities in children). However, abiding by these rules is far easier said than done, especially when kids are begging for sweets! So how often do you give your kids sugary snacks? The team at Main Street Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics has conducted a comprehensive survey of parents in  America to determine how often kids eat sugar per week by state. The results may surprise you — check it out:

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Here are the top 10 states where children eat the most sugar based on the average number of sugary snacks per week, according to our children’s sugar consumption survey:

1. Pennsylvania — 22.862 snacks
2. Kentucky — 17.757 snacks
3. Idaho — 16.439 snacks
4. Alabama — 14.416 snacks
5. New Jersey — 13.988 snacks
6. New York — 13.951 snacks
7. Illinois — 13.687 snacks
8. Mississippi — 13.478 snacks
9. Oklahoma — 13.434 snacks
10. North Dakota — 13.374 snacks

How Much Sugar Does the Average Child Eat?

American children consume an average of 81 grams of sugar per day, which adds up to more than 65 pounds of added sugar each year! Kids are ingesting more than 30 gallons of added sugars from sweet beverages alone. That’s enough to fill a bathtub! So what foods have the most added sugars? The American Heart Association has provided this fascinating breakdown of where all of that added sugar is coming from:

• Snacks and sweets — 31%
• Soft drinks — 25%
• Fruit drinks — 11%
• Coffee/tea — 7%
• Sport/energy drinks — 3%

As you can see, beverages are the biggest source of added sugar for children, accounting for 46% of added sugars.

Why Is Sugar Bad for Kids?

What happens when a child eats too much sugar? While some sugar is natural and healthy (such as from fruits), too much can be harmful to a child’s physical and mental health. Here are some of the dangers of added sugar for children:

• Higher risk of obesity
• Higher risk of tooth decay
• Higher risk of heart disease
• Higher risk of high cholesterol
• Higher risk of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease
• Studies show a negative impact on academic performance, memory, and learning
• Higher risk of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, acne, and gout
• Digestive issues because of the effects of sugar on gut function and the gut microbiome

Why Is Sugar Bad for Teeth?

It is common knowledge that reducing sugar is a key step in keeping your child’s teeth healthy. But why is sugar bad for your teeth? Tooth decay occurs when acid within the mouth attacks the enamel and dentin, causing holes or cavities to form. This acid is produced by bacteria that are found within plaque, a thin and sticky film that repeatedly grows over teeth. When sugar enters the mouth, it interacts with the plaque bacteria and produces acid. This acid slowly dissolves tooth enamel and leads to weakness, decay, and cavities. Healthline describes it as such: “Your mouth is a constant battleground of demineralization and remineralization. Nonetheless, cavities occur when bacteria in your mouth digest sugar and produce acid, which weakens tooth enamel.”

Fortunately, there are ways to help you and your children’s teeth win the battle against sugar! You can start by checking out the CDC’s excellent overview of healthy dental habits for kids and how parents and caregivers can cultivate these good dental hygiene habits starting from a young age.

Be sure to check out our guide to dangerous dental habits that could be harming your child. For further resources on protecting your child’s teeth, check out this wonderful guide from KidsHealth.org on how to keep your child’s teeth healthy and another guide from HealthyChildren.org on how to prevent tooth decay in baby teeth. All of these guides emphasize the importance of reducing sugar in your child’s diet!

Here are some resources on how to reduce added sugar in your child’s diet:

• How to Reduce Added Sugar in Your Child’s Diet: American Academy of Pediatrics Tips — HealthyChildren.org
• Five Easy Ways to Reduce Sugar in Your Child’s Diet — Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
• What to Do When Your Child Eats Too Much Sugar — Cleveland Clinic
• Rethink Your Drink: Reducing Sugary Drinks in Your Diet — American Heart Association
• Four Tips to Cut Down on Kids’ Summertime Sugar Binge — UTSouthwestern Medical Center

Where in the U.S. Do Children Consume the Most Sugary Snacks?

We conducted a survey of 1,135 parents of children aged 1-17, asking how often their children have various sugary snacks per week, including cookies, candy, doughnuts, pastries, ice cream, ice pops, cake, pie, and beverages such as fruit juice, chocolate milk, soft drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks. Here’s what we found.

How Often Do Children Have Sugary Snacks Each Week per State?

The 10 States Where Children Eat the Most Sugary Foods Each Week

Sugary foods include cookies, candy, doughnuts, pastries, ice cream, ice pops, cake, and pie.

The 10 States Where Children Eat the Fewest Sugary Foods Each Week

The 10 States Where Children Drink the Most Sugary Beverages Each Week

Sugary beverages include fruit juice, chocolate milk, soft drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks.

The 10 States Where Children Drink the Fewest Sugary Beverages Each Week

Related: Main Street Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics in Florida and Maryland locations, dental offices near me, we accept dental insurance plans in Florida and Maryland.