(ARA) – Soda vending machines line the halls of many junior high and high schools like colorful sentinels. Between classes, students search their pockets for change. Some are merely thirsty, but others are looking for an early morning caffeine kick. However, none are looking for tooth decay, though that's what many may get.
Since 1995, soda companies have approached schools with lucrative, long-term deals — called “pouring rights” contracts — to exclusively sell their brand in exchange for funding. Citizens' groups and dental care professionals have criticized these companies for promoting their products to kids in school.
Many dentists are worried that the increase in soda consumption is leading to an increase in tooth decay among teenagers. “It is easy to forget that soft drinks may be harmful,” says William Chase, DDS, FAGD, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education. “Many parents just don't ask what their kids are drinking or how much. We are reverting to a pre-fluoride condition in America.”
Studies show an increase in soda consumption over the last three decades. Soda consumption has increased from 22.2 gallons of cola per person a year in 1970, to 56 gallons per person a year in 1999 — totaling about 14 billion gallons of soda.
“We are not trying to get schools to ban vending machines … we want to educate people on what soda consumption can do to kids' teeth,” says Dr. Chase.
What Kids Can Do to Protect Their Teeth
Kids who drink soda or other sugary beverages during the day can take steps to prevent acid from damaging enamel on their teeth.
– After drinking soda, kids should rinse their mouths with water to wash away excess sugar that bacteria consume to create acid. This helps neutralize acids and reduces bacteria by 30 percent.
– Kids should drink soda from a straw to reduce sugar exposure to their teeth and to prevent staining tooth surfaces.
– Drink soda from a can, not a bottle with a replaceable cap, to reduce sipping throughout the day, which can exacerbate acid attacks.
– Chew sugarless gum. Chewing gum can triple the regular amount of saliva in the mouth, which is nature's buffer against cavities.
How Parents Can Get More information
Dental health information is available through AGD's SmileLine. Consumers can have their questions concerning oral health personally answered by an Academy dentist, in either Spanish or English.
– SmileLine Online can be accessed through the AGD's Web site, www.agd.org. Click on the big red smile, post a question and a dentist will post a response in 24 hours.
– The toll-free hotline version, co-sponsored by DENTSPLY International and Kodak Dental Products, is active for only one day, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. Call 1-800- SMILE-33 or 1-800-764-5333 to have oral health questions answered immediately.
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com,
e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com
