Sip All Day, Get Decay!

Soft drinks are no longer an occasional treat. They've become a daily habit for a growing number of people, especially kids, teens and young adults. But did you know a steady diet of soft drinks can lead to tooth decay? It's a problem many dentists see in their offices nearly every day.

And the problem doesn’t stop there. Soft drinks can also lead to childhood obesity, calcium deprivation, and caffeine and sugar addiction. While researching this article, I learned some very disturbing facts:

• Kids and teens drink twice as much soda than milk
• A 12-oz can of Mountain Dew contains 11 teaspoons of sugar. A person who drinks 2 per day consumes more than 1.5 pounds of sugar per week from Mountain Dew alone!
• It takes 2 hours of moderate walking to burn off the calories from one 20-oz bottle of soda pop.

So how are soft drinks hard on adolescent health? Let’s start with the obvious…dental decay.

Here’s how soda can contribute to cavities. First the sugar in soda combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. The acid attacks your teeth. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes. Each time you sip, the acid attack starts again.

It is these ongoing acid attacks that weaken your tooth enamel. Bacteria in your mouth adhere to these areas of weak enamel. The bacteria further weaken the enamel producing a cavity.

If you have receding gums, acid does more damage below the gum line than above it. This is particularly a concern for adults. For kids and teens with braces, they have a much higher risk for decay.

A favorite saying of Dr. Lynskey’s is “sugared sodas are as unhealthy for teeth as cigarettes are for lungs.” Now although cigarettes are forbidden, I’m not saying the same for soda. Soda is acceptable in moderation. And remember not to sip for long periods of time.

When you are done, brush your teeth, or swish with water to dilute the sugar. Never drink soda or juice before bedtime because the liquid pools in your mouth and coats your tongue and teeth with sugar and acid.

Also parents need to read labels. Regular soda is high in sugar. And diet or "sugar-free" soda is high in acid. Instead, drink water. It has no sugar, no acid and no calories. For a change, add milk or 100% juice to wash down your food.

Get regular checkups and cleanings to remove bacteria buildup (plaque). Floss, too. Also, the use of fluoride toothpaste and rinse will protect your teeth.

Soft drinks are also suspected in the increased prevalence of obesity. Childhood obesityhas doubled in the past 20 years. High calories from fast food, soda, juice, and candy, combined with insufficient physical activity, are putting pounds on our children.

Obesity is linked to Type II diabetes (currently affecting 1 out of every 50 children), heart disease, stroke, and cancer. One of the most startling statistics is that 80% of obese children and teenagers remain obese as adults.

The increase in soda consumption has dramatically affected the amount of milk our children are consuming. In fact 70% of preteen girls and 60% of preteen boys are calcium deprived.

And it gets worse. As teenagers, 90% of girls and 70% of boys fall short of calcium requirements. Calcium is required during bone formation as children are growing. Depletion at this age can increase their chances of osteoporosis as they age. But how much calcium does children and teenagers need?

Daily Calcium Requirements:

• 1-5 year olds 800mg daily
• 6-10 year olds 800-1200 mg daily
• 11-18 year olds 1200-1500mg daily

Some sources of Calcium:

• Milk (8oz of 1%) 300mg
• Calcium fortified Orange juice (8oz) 300mg
• Cheddar Cheese (1.5oz) 306 mg
• Low-fat yogurt (8oz) 314 mg
• Cooked frozen spinach(1/2 cup) 139mg

Caffeine and Sugar addiction are also serious health concerns. For a 40 pound child, 180 milligrams of caffeine can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and muscle spasms. There are 184 mg of caffeine in 2 20-ounce bottles of Mountain Dew.

Additionally, caffeine is a diuretic resulting in fluid loss and dehydration. This is especially a concern in teenagers participating in sports. Caffeine addiction leads to sleep disruption and insomnia. Withdrawal symptoms can be as dramatic as those from drug dependency: anxiety, tension, irritability, headaches and stomach aches.

Take Action
Public school policies are made with your tax dollars. You have a right to expect nutritious food choices in your schools. Contact your school:

— Students, you have the power to change the beverages offered in your school. If your only choices are soda and sweetened juices, speak up and ask your school administrators for beverages that won't harm your teeth.

— Parents, please talk to your children about the effects of soda consumption. Monitor what, how much and when they drink. Encourage healthy alternatives, such as milk and water.

— School boards and administrators, please ensure that your school's food and beverage policy influences students to make healthy choices

Parents may want to find the answers to these questions:

1. Do your schools have soda machines in them?
2. If so, are your schools paid more money when more soda is sold? In other words, are schools encouraged to sell soda?
3. Do the machines include a healthy alternative, such as water?
4. Do the machines sell standard 12-ounce cans or the larger 20 ounce bottles? Remember, the damage to teeth occurs each and every time a sip is taken.
5. Are there large ads on the machines or are there messages about healthy eating and drinking habits?

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