Drinking more than a soda a day raises the risk that acids found in many soft and energy drinks will eat away at your tooth enamel and its pearly white color.īack in 2009, Priscilla Harris, an associate professor at the Appalachian College of Law, issued the first battle cry in the war against Mountain Dew mouth with a legal brief titled “ Undoing the Damage of the Dew,” which explores how the drink became ingrained in the region’s culture. I would definitely attribute these problems to drinks.” Both sodas and energy drinks, he says, “are more damaging than food.”ĭentists have also found that the effects of soda on teeth are strikingly similar to the effects of methamphetamine or crack on teeth, as I reported in May. “They go hand in hand many times, and they’re equally bad. “I see erosion from the acids in the drinks, and decay from the sugars,” says Steven Ghareeb, a dentist in South Charleston, W.Va. The beverage industry has repeatedly challenged claims that its products are destroying teeth. “It makes no sense to be paying for these things twice.” “We are using taxpayer dollars to buy soda for the SNAP program, and we are using taxpayer dollars to rip teeth out of people’s heads who can’t afford dental care and are on Medicaid,” says Dana Singer, a research analyst at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department in Parkersburg, W.Va., who wants to see stricter regulations on sales of all sugary beverages in the region. They want to tackle the problem with policies, including restricting soda purchases with food stamps (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Public health advocates say soft drinks are driving the region’s alarmingly high incidence of eroded brown teeth - a phenomenon dubbed “Mountain Dew mouth,” after the region’s favorite drink. By now, we’ve all heard of the health risks posed by drinking too much soda.īut over in Appalachia, the region that stretches roughly from southern New York state to Alabama, the fight against soda is targeting an altogether different concern: rotted teeth. Sodas act as dehydrating diuretics, much like tea, coffee and alcohol, and can inhibit proper digestive function.Obesity. This prolonged acid environment can lead to inflammation of the stomach and duodenal lining, which can be quite painful.ġ0. Drinking sodas regularly can upset the fragile, acid-alkaline balance of the stomach, creating a continuous acid environment. The artificial flavors found in soda may also contain traces of MSG.ĩ. Citric acid, often found in soda, may contain traces of MSG. Aspartame, used in diet sodas, is a potent brain toxin and endocrine disrupter.Ĩ. Drinking soda every day can lead to blood sugar disorders, including diabetes.ħ. Sprite, 7-Up, ginger ale, and many brands of root beer are caffeine-free.Ħ. Mountain Dew, Mello Yellow, Sun Drop, Jolt, Barq’s Root Beer, and Sunkist Orange soda all contain caffeine. A can of Pepsi One has about 56 milligrams of caffeine. Colas contain 35 to 38 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can. In large amounts, caffeine can lead to adrenal exhaustion, especially in children. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal gland without providing the nourishment it needs. Caffeine is known to create physical dependence and upsets the normal balance of neurochemistry in the developing brains of children. Dentists are reporting complete loss of the enamel on the front teeth in teen-aged boys and girls who habitually drink sodas.ĥ. Acid can begin to dissolve tooth enamel in only 20 minutes. Not only does the sugar cause cavities, the acids in soda etch off tooth enamel. Studies show a direct link between tooth decay and soda. Doctors are becoming concerned about the health impact of carbonated beverage consumption on teen-aged girls.Ĥ. Girls who drink more soda are more prone to broken bones. Phosphorus, a common ingredient in soda, can deplete bones of calcium. Soda drinkers are less likely to get the recommended levels of vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, and other important nutrients.ģ. Soda suppresses the appetite so kids are less likely to eat nourishing foods. Studies show a strong link between soda consumption and childhood obesity.Ģ. Soda contains zero nutrients, and is high in calories and sugar.
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