"Premature loss of tooth enamel and weakening of overall tooth structure are two devastating oral affects of teens' poor diet that can not be reversed later in life," explains Jane Soxman, DDS, author of a new study that appears in the January/February 2003 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy's clinical, peer-reviewed publication.
Adolescence is the time of peak bone growth, a time when more nutrient-packed calories are essential to fuel growing bodies and strengthen teeth and bones, however adolescence is the same time when soda and sugary, high-carbohydrate foods are rapidly displacing healthy foods such as milk, fruits and vegetables.
"The easy access of sugary beverages and foods from home to school and everywhere in between has compromised the health of teens' teeth, and helped fuel the national obesity epidemic," says Julie Barna, DMD, MAGD, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Soxman's research shows that drinking carbonated beverages seems to be one of the most significant causes of increased cavities and obesity for today's teens.
Fifteen percent of American adolescents ages 6-19 are overweight. The number is expected to increase as the 10 percent of preschool age children ages 2-5 that are overweight are becoming addicted to caffeine and sugar making unhealthy habits such as drinking soda throughout the day harder to stop.
The phosphoric, citric, tartaric and/or carbonic acid in soda is now linked to breaking down the tooth enamel around dental sealants and restorations further compromising teens' teeth and leading to more extensive dental treatment to prevent total tooth loss.
Soft Drinks and Bone Density
Additionally, the phosphoric acid in most regular and diet cola drinks limits calcium absorption and has a direct influence on bone density. By age 16, girls have accumulated 90 to 97 percent of their bone mass making adequate calcium intake vital.
However, national statistics show only 19 percent of girls ages 9-19 are getting the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day.
New research also confirms a direct link between soft drink consumption and bone fractures in teenage girls.
"These girls are at an extreme risk for developing osteoporosis, already exhibiting symptoms of this disease in their teen years" says Dr. Soxman. "Early education on the importance of calcium consumption is key to reversing this trend."
As brushing, flossing and ensuring teens' get fluoride through diet no longer ensures a healthy smile and teeth, Dr. Barna recommends parents see that teens visit the dentist every six months for a personal diagnosis and treatment plan.
Teens Growing Up in the 21st Century
- 1 in 7 American children are overweight, weighing at or above the 95th percentile of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Growth Charts.
- Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
- Being overweight puts adolescents at significant health risks including increased incidence of:
1. Hypertension and Elevated Cholesterol leading to Heart Disease
2. Type II Diabetes
3. Osteoporosis
4. Erosion of Tooth Enamel###