Why Kids Should Avoid Caffeine

It may surprise you to learn that around 75% of American children are consuming some form of caffeine every day. This can be blamed on increased coffee and energy drink consumption among children. It’s obvious that caffeine isn’t great for children, but you may not be aware of all the reasons why.

Facts about Caffeine

Below are a few things you should know about caffeine before allowing your child to consume it:

• Caffeine can decrease the calcium in your child’s body – Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production in your child’s body. When more urine is produced, calcium is lost. Because of this, caffeine has been shown to steal calcium from the teeth and bones of your child! For every 100mg of caffeine consumed, 6mg of calcium is lost.
• Caffeine causes an addiction – Caffeine is considered to be one of the most addictive substances in the world. The more caffeine you ingest, the more you crave. This is why it’s so important to make sure that your child doesn’t ever start a caffeine routine – it may prove to be difficult to break.  
• Caffeinated beverages are usually acidic – Lastly, most of the beverages that contain high amounts of caffeine are also very acidic. Tooth enamel will eventually begin to break down when in contact with a steady stream of acid. Children’s tooth enamel is even more vulnerable than adult enamel. This is why kids who consume soda and sports drinks are at a higher risk of developing dental cavities and loss of tooth enamel than those who do not.

The best way to protect your child from caffeine is to avoid having caffeinated beverages on hand. This will benefit your child’s overall health as well as their dental and oral health.

If you live in Delaware, Ohio and would like to make an appointment for your child to receive a dental cleaning and an exam, please contact Little Smiles of Delaware today.