Should Soft Drinks Have Warnings?

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 31 January 2013 12:28



One dental expert wants to make certain people are aware of the devastating effects from sugary drinks.

A new study indicating sugary drinks raise the risk of tooth decay by 46 percent has caused Dr. Jason Armfield from the University of Adelaide and the Australian Research Center for Population Oral Health to say that soft drinks should come with a warning label.

The new study included nearly 17,000 children in Australia. The results showed that children who consumed more than 3 sugary drinks each day were at an increase of 46 percent to develop tooth decay. The results also discovered that about 56 percent of children ages 5 through 16 consumed at least one sugary drink every day.

The information backs up what many previous studies of sugary drinks have discovered. The problem is children continue to drink sugary beverages at an increasing rate. Aside from dental issues, the sugary drinks may also result in childhood obesity and diabetes.

No official steps have been taken in any country to put a label on soft drinks warning of tooth decay. Many steps would need be taken before such action could ever be considered.

Some places have taken action to curb soft drink consumption, such as New York City’s ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 oz. But most people know the possible negative effects from sugary drinks at this point, and it’s each person’s decision to consume them or not.

New Snack May be Harmful to Children’s Dental Health

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 04 February 2013 16:04



Fruit puree snacks may be a favorite for some children. But they could have a terrible impact on a child’s oral health.

Gerber Graduates Grabbers, Plum Organics, GoGo Squeez and Smashies are some of the snacks that dental experts are advising parents against giving to their children. The amount of sugar in the treats neutralizes any possible positive effects the snacks may have.

The products may be considered convenient baby food or a quick snack on the run. Some of them claim to be 100 percent organic without any added sugar.

But, in many cases, they come with plenty of sugar. Gerber’s organic apple puree, for example, possesses 11 grams of sugar. There’s no nutritional value to consuming that much sugar when considering the size of the portion.

One of the main problems with these snacks is that the sugar may linger on the teeth for an extended period of time—and possibly more if consumption is spaced throughout the day.

Some of the snacks even possess 20 grams of sugar, which may be more than some adults want to consume in an entire day.

If the snacks are consumed in moderation or while drinking large quantities of water, the person will only be impacted slightly, if at all.

Gum Disease May Have Greater Impact on AIDS Patients

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 05 February 2013 15:49



Moderate gum disease in an animal model exposed to an AIDS-like condition encountered more viral variants that cause infection and more severe inflammation, according to a new study.

Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio discovered these features may have a worse impact when considering the long-term effects.

The basic premise of the study is that even the mildest of inflammation in the mouth needs to be treated because it may eventually result in disastrous consequences. Roughly half of the world’s population has some level of gum disease.

After an animal was infected with simian AIDS, the animals’ symptoms are compounded further with the presence of gingivitis.

The study appears in the February issue of the Journal of Virology.

This research was precipitated by the fact that epidemiological evidence suggested infection and inflammation of the genital mucosa raises the chances of becoming infected with HIV via sexual contact.

To compile the data, the group of scientists caused a group of monkeys to develop gum inflammation and compared data with a group of monkeys that did not have gum inflammation. Both groups were exposed to SIV, a monkey virus similar to AIDS, and there was no difference with regard to rate of infection. The animals with gum disease, however, had more viral variants that resulted in infection and displayed higher systemic inflammation after being infected.