By Iantha Stewart

Medline Plus reports that the consumption of some very common kids drinks may be causing serious and irreversible tooth enamel decay. The high acidity levels in sodas and other soft drinks, sports drinks and fruit juices can cause damage to teeth within 30 seconds of contact.

Dr. Sarbin Ranjitkar, of the Craniofacial Biology Research Group at the University of Adelaide in Australia, says: “If high acidity drinks are consumed, it is not simply a matter of having a child clean their teeth an hour or 30 minutes later and hoping they'll be OK -- the damage is already done."

Ranjitkar suggests that it is when an imbalance of acids and protective mechanisms occur, that such extensive damage may happen. These drinks are causing a spike in the number of children and young adults affected by tooth erosion.

"Dental erosion is an issue of growing concern in developed countries, and it is often only detected clinically after extensive tooth wear has occurred,” says Ranjitkar, “Such erosion can lead to a lifetime of compromised dental health that may require complex and extensive rehabilitation -- but it is also preventable with minimal intervention."

More at Medline Plus.

Photo: Stoonn
Published: August 20, 2014