Dentists Welcome New York’s Super-Sized Fizzy Drinks Ban
Dentists across the world have welcomed a ban on super-sized fizzy drinks in New York. Figures show that consumption of fizzy drinks, which are often laden with sugar, has trebled in the last fifty years.
New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, announced plans to introduce a ban on super-size drinks in May and the city health board after voted 8-0 in favour of the ban. The reason behind the vote was to reduce levels of obesity, which are alarmingly high in America, but the ban will also have positive repercussions for oral health. The super-sized drinks, which are 16oz or larger, contain a huge amount of sugar, which increases the risk of weight gain, as well as decay and gum disease. A standard size fizzy drink (non-diet) contains an average of 12 teaspoons of sugar, meaning the amount of sugar in a super-size drink is frightening.
Sugar causes gingivitis and decay, as bacteria feed on the sugar and produce harmful plaque acids, which attack the tooth enamel.
Research carried out by the University of California revealed that fizzy drink consumption has trebled in the last fifty years and this had undoubtedly had consequences for general and oral health. Sugar is associated with obesity, one of the world’s most worrying health problems, and oral health diseases, which can contribute to life-threatening medical conditions. According to the university, the increase is sugar consumption has the potential to be as dangerous as smoking and alcohol consumption.
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