![]() Inbreeding: Inbreeding can lead to genetic mutations and birth defects, including dental defects.The factors contributing to vulnerability in the Appalachian population are worldwide issues.įactors that contribute to the development of Mountain Dew Mouth: ![]() ![]() However, it is not limited to this region alone. ![]() The commonest reports of Mountain Dew Mouth come from the Appalachian region in the USA. The result: dental destruction.Ĭhildren are noticeably at risk, as they are the highest consumers of carbonated beverages. Dental erosion occurs when dental hard tissue wears away over time because of dietary or gastric acids.Ĭarbonated, sugary drinks are responsible for causing damage to dental enamel - the enamel becomes weak, leaving your teeth open to bacterial attack. It also contains citric acid found in lime-based drinks, which increases the chances of dental decay. Eleven teaspoons of sugar are contained in 360 ml of Mountain Dew. However, Mountain Dew remains far ahead of its competitors in terms of sugar and acid content. The reason: high sugar content, carbonation, and acidic content. While the term does seem to reference Mountain Dew explicitly, the link between dental decay and habitual consumption of carbonated drinks is well-established. It begins with dental erosion and eventually progresses to full-blown cavities. According to a 2012 study by Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, the federal government is spending $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion on soda purchases through SNAP.Mountain Dew mouth is the dental byproduct of regular consumption of the soft drink Mountain Dew. Singer says one of the best opportunities to curb the problem is targeting programs like SNAP, which allows recipients to buy soda. Some 67 percent of West Virginians age 65 or older have lost six or more teeth owing to tooth decay or gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's according to calculations by Singer, who is working with Harris. While Harris says that there aren't a lot of comprehensive surveys of dental health in Appalachia, signs of a rampant problem are unmistakable: Some 26 percent of preschoolers in the region have tooth decay, and 15 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds have had a tooth extracted because of decay or erosion. "What Mountain Dew has going for it is that it's high in caffeine and high in sugar," Harris says, adding, "Students tell us it tastes best, and it's a habit." Mountain Dew was invented in Tennessee, before PepsiCo bought the brand. Singer adds, "Here in West Virginia, you see people carrying around bottles of Mountain Dew all the time - even at a public health conference." She's received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study the problem.Īnd there's another reason why soda mouth is so pervasive in Appalachia, Harris says: the region's distinct culture of sipping soda constantly throughout the day. Many people don't trust the well water in their homes because of pollution concerns and probably drink more soda because of it, she says. Harris says that dental problems are especially bad because dental care is harder to get in Appalachia, which includes many of the poorest and most remote communities in the country. "It makes no sense to be paying for these things twice." "We are using taxpayer dollars to buy soda for the SNAP program, and we are using taxpayer dollars to rip teeth out of people's heads who can't afford dental care and are on Medicaid," says Dana Singer, a research analyst at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department in Parkersburg, W.Va., who wants to see stricter regulations on sales of all sugary beverages in the region. They want to tackle the problem with policies, including restricting soda purchases with food stamps (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and currently under debate in Congress). Public health advocates say soft drinks are driving the region's alarmingly high incidence of eroded brown teeth - a phenomenon dubbed "Mountain Dew mouth," after the region's favorite drink. By now, we've all heard of the health risks posed by drinking too much soda.īut over in Appalachia, the region that stretches roughly from southern New York state to Alabama, the fight against soda is targeting an altogether different concern: rotted teeth. "Here in West Virginia, you see people carrying around bottles of Mountain Dew all the time - even at a public health conference," says public health researcher Dana Singer. ![]() Appalachia has a distinct culture of sipping soda constantly throughout the day. ![]()
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