Dangers of Soda

This month I would like to talk about the effects of soda on our children’s teeth. The consumption of soda in the United States has increased to alarming proportions. Everybody is drinking more soda and drinking it more frequently. One statistic I have seen states that between 56 percent and 85 percent of school-age children consume at least 1 serving of soda each day. Soda pop is sweetened by adding sucrose or high fructose corn syrup. This yields the equivalent of 10-12 teaspoons of sugar in a 12 oz can of soda. These sugars fuel the bacteria that produce the acids which soften the enamel leading to decay. Exposure to the acids of soda alone contribute to the breakdown as well. A hidden danger with increased soda consumption is that it leads to less milk consumption which indirectly leads to a higher incidence of demineralization and cavities. Milk contains calcium lactate which stimulates remineralization of teeth. The dental team has the training to intervene with diet counseling, home care instruction and professionally applied fluoride.