The Impact of Caffeine on Children

Children are drinking less and less soda as the years go on, which is good news! However, even as they’re drinking less soda, they’re ingesting more and more caffeine. In fact, up to 75% of American kids consume some form of caffeine every day. This can be blamed on the popularity of energy drinks among children.

Facts About Caffeine

While you probably know that caffeine is bad for kids, you may not know all of the reasons why. Below are a few things you should keep in mind before allowing your children to consume caffeine.

• Caffeinated drinks are often very acidic – Most caffeinated drinks are very acidic. As strong as tooth enamel is, it will begin to break down when in contact with large amounts of acid. A child’s tooth enamel is even more vulnerable than an adult’s. This is why kids who consume soda or other acidic beverages are at a high risk of dental cavities.
• Caffeine decreases calcium in the body – Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production in your child’s body. When urine is produced, calcium is lost. Because of this, caffeine has been shown to steal calcium from your child’s bones and teeth. In fact, for every 100mg of caffeine consumed, 6mg of calcium is lost.
• Caffeine becomes an addiction – Caffeine is considered one of the most addictive substances in the world. The more caffeine your child ingested, the more he or she will crave it. This makes it so important to make sure your children don’t start a caffeine routine – it can be difficult to break.

The best way to protect your child from caffeine is to avoid having these beverages in the home. This will not only benefit your child’s dental and oral health but his or her overall health as well.

If you are concerned that your child’s caffeine consumption is damaging his or her teeth, please make an appointment at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry. Our pediatric dental office is located here in Parker, Colorado.