When Sugar Is Not So Sweet
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB’s) are the leading source of added sugar in American’s daily diets. Added sugars contribute about 13% of total daily calories. About 47% of calories from added sugars come from sugary drinks.
SSB consumption is shown to be connected with tooth decay in children in California. 54 percent of kindergartners and 70 percent of third graders have experienced tooth decay and nearly one-third of California children have untreated tooth decay. Two out of 5 California children consume one or more sugar-sweetened beverages each day.
How Does Sugar Hurt Your Teeth?
When you drink or eat sugar, the bacteria that are naturally in your mouth start eating that sugar.
This creates acid in your mouth. The acid starts attacking the teeth and dissolves the enamel of your teeth.
The enamel is the outer covering that protects your tooth. When you lose enamel, your teeth start decaying and painful cavities can form.
Taking Care of Your Teeth is Important
Taking care of teeth – even baby teeth is important. Baby teeth hold the space in the mouth needed for permanent teeth that come in later. Cavities that form can affect: eating, sleeping, speaking and learning.
Fixing baby teeth by filling them, pulling them out, or putting crowns on them can be expensive, cause pain or change the appearance of a child’s smile as they grow up.
What Health Risks Are Associated With Sugary Drinks?
Sugary drinks and added sugar harm more then just teeth. Sugary drinks can lead to a number of serious health problems that can last throughout your child’s lifetime such as unhealthy weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Unhealthy Weight Gain. Being overweight or obese is a serious health concern. That’s in part because excess weight is linked to other serous health problems, like type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes used to be considered a health problem that only adults could get. That’s not the case anymore. Type 2 diabetes happens when too much sugar builds up in your blood, and that puts stress on your body. For some children, type 2 diabetes can be a health struggle for the rest of their lives and require medication and other changes to diet and physical activity.
- Heart Disease. Some are surprised to learn that sugary drinks can lead to heart disease over time. Sugary drinks can increase your risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. If those health problems are not treated and managed, they can lead to serious heart problems as your children get older.
Over a series of articles this month, we will shed some light on SSB’s and help you: Make Every Sip Count, Choose Health, Get Active and Rethink Your Drink.
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