It's Hot Outside -- Drinking Water Will Keep Your Child Hydrated and Their Teeth Healthy

Check out this article in Dentistry IQ about the warning that CSHM-associated dentists issued to parents regarding sports and energy drinks.

With temperatures soaring across the country, it is important to keep kids who are playing outdoors hydrated. But, with more and more parents and caregivers turning to sports and energy drinks, parents should be aware of the risks associated with these drinks. Sports and energy drinks often contain citric acid -- a highly erosive ingredient that can eat away at tooth enamel. The risks of these drinks were recently highlighted in a study published in the June issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal, Pediatrics.

“As children of all ages engage in outdoor activities during the summer, there is a growing tendency toward the consumption of sports and energy drinks instead of water,” said Dr. Steve Adair of CSHM. “The Academy’s advice to parents on this issue is clear. Encourage your kids to drink water instead of acidic, high-carb drinks that may increase the risk of tooth decay.”

The report stated that dental erosion from sports and energy drinks are “of concern” in children and adolescents, and pointed to a common ingredient – citric acid – that is “highly erosive” because it continues to eat away at tooth enamel even after a drink containing citric acid has been consumed.

Among the AAP’s recommendations were the following:

• That parents should be informed that routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted.

• Awareness should be raised among children, parents and educators that sports drink intake can lead to excessive caloric consumption and an increased risk of obesity and dental erosion.

• Water, not sports or energy drinks, should be aggressively promoted as the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.

Dr. Adair Speaks to Dentistry IQ About Serving the Underserved

Dr. Steve Adair recently spoke with Kevin Henry, editor of Dentistry IQ, about the importance of dental care for children -- and the role that parents play in ensuring their children have healthy smiles.

"In our clinics around the country, we daily see children come in with numerous cavities caused by diet, poor oral hygiene, lack of education about oral health, and more. All clinicians can do is try to keep up with the decay. If better care could be provided for the parents, I think it would turn the tide. Studies have shown that the children of mothers with untreated cavities are twice as likely to have untreated cavities. Mothers with regular dental care rated their health significantly higher than those who didn’t receive regular care. Another study has shown children are much more likely to visit the dentist if their parents visit the dentist regularly."

-- Dr. Steve Adair

Click here to read the article.

Dentistry IQ: Recession affects dental care for youth from low-income families

In a new article featured in Dentistry IQ titled "Recession affects dental care for youth from low-income families", Dr. Steve Adair discusses the results of a recent survey which demonstrate that the recession is having a significant impact on dental care for many kids across the country.

The article states:

The national online poll surveyed 210 parents of young children in households with annual incomes of $35,000 or less. It revealed that one in five (20%) take their children to the dentist less than once a year, well below the American Dental Association’s recommendation of two annual check-ups. About 16% said their children are not insured, and more than 40% said their family receives government health assistance from programs, such as Medicaid and CHIP. Approximately 18% said they have trouble locating a dentist who will treat their children, a finding that reflects a national problem, Dr. Adair said.

“The numbers in the survey are not surprising given the overall challenge the nation faces with regard to dental care for low-income children,” [Dr. Adair] said. “The information reinforces what many of us suspected about the impact of the economy.

Adair goes on to say, "Through events such as health fairs and free dental screenings at schools and day care centers, Small Smiles helps spread the message about the need for establishing an oral health routine to their community,” he continued. “As a profession, we can do a better job educating parents and children of all socioeconomic levels about the importance of good oral health and their options for receiving the dental care that they need.”

To read the Dentistry IQ article, please click here.

To read more about the survey conducted, please click here.

Dr. Steve Adair Addresses Soda Mouth Crisis in USA Today Letter to the Editor

In a Letter to the Editor that appeared in USA Today on June 18, Dr. Steve Adair highlights the problems associated with soda consumption by children. Dr. Adair's letter, written in response to an article on a potential soda tax which is being considered by Congress and the Administration to help pay for health care reform, states:

"USA TODAY's coverage of a potential soda tax highlights the link between soda consumption and obesity, but there is another soda-driven health problem that is just as prevalent: tooth decay among children ("Pour on taxes, pour on change?," Life, Monday).

Tooth decay affects five times more children than asthma and is the most common chronic childhood disease; 80% of tooth decay among American kids is found in just 25% of all children, a majority of whom come from low-income families. Additionally, children with untreated tooth decay are more likely to have chronic pain and problems eating and sleeping.

This epidemic is driven in part by sugared soda consumption and other unhealthy habits children learn at home, but more needs to be done in communities as well. Nationwide, only about 30% of low-income children receive adequate dental care.

Whether a tax would reduce soda consumption is debatable, but what is certain is that parents and children need to be aware of the risks. Through education and expanded care access, we can help ensure that our nation's children grow up with healthy smiles."

To read the letter on USA Today's website, please click here.