I’ve got to admit that I’m worried about the destruction I see in the mouths of our kids these days.  Fast food, “nutrition” bars, quick snacks and soft drinks are wreaking havoc on their teeth and overall health.  I know that our kids are constantly on the go and it’s a lot easier to “get something quick” to help teens stay alert and on schedule with all of the school, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs they have.  Unfortunately, today's fast-paced lifestyle threatens to leave a generation with permanent damage to oral and overall health. 

Premature loss of tooth enamel and weakening of overall tooth structure are two devastating oral effects of teens' poor diet that can not be reversed later in life.  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.

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.  This number is expected to increase.  Why?  Ten percent of overweight preschool age children ages 2-5 are becoming addicted to caffeine and sugar which makes it harder for them to stop unhealthy habits such as drinking soda throughout the day.

The phosphoric, citric, tartaric and/or carbonic acid in soda is linked to breaking down the tooth enamel.  The acids are also tied to the destruction of the bond around dental sealants and restorations further compromising teens' teeth which can lead to more extensive dental treatment in order to prevent total tooth loss.  Phosphoric acid in most regular and diet cola drinks limit 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 confirms a direct link between soft drink consumption and bone fractures in teenage girls.

Soft drink purchases by teens in schools increased 1,100 percent over the past 20 years, while dairy purchases have decreased by 30 percent.  Although federal regulations prohibit the sale of soft drinks to students during lunch hours in most schools, soft drink machines often line hallways, which means the “goods” are accessible to students all day long.

In 1977, 12- to 19-year-olds drank 16 ounces of soda a day.  In 1996, this same group consumed an average of 28 ounces a day.  Soda consumption has increased from 22.2 gallons of cola per person per year in 1970 to 56 gallons in 1999.  The average male in the 12- to 19-year age group drinks the equivalent of 868 cans a year!

Most people don’t realize it, but a typical 12-once can of regular soda contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar.  You read it right – 10 teaspoons!  Just put ten teaspoons of sugar in your next glass of tea and see what it tastes like.  I don’t think you will be impressed.

I know it is tough to eat properly in today’s fast paced society, but for our kids sake (and your own!) try to eat healthy and cut down on the soda and high fat/sugar foods.