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Soda is the enemy of teeth Rock Hill Herald May, 2001 Bill Cranford, Rock Hill dentist 

I am responding to the recent commentary, “War on soda is baseless,” written by David Martosko with The Guest Choice Network.

I was somewhat dismayed that The Herald elected to print non-science-based propaganda from a Washington-based corporate media manipulator without first allowing the true experts to respond. These true experts are the members of the local medical and dental professions of York, Chester and Lancaster counties who see the ravages of excess soda consumption on a weekly basis.

My response also may be non-scientific and totally subjective but is based on my examination and counseling of multiple patients who are consuming in excess of 10 cans, or 120 ounces, of soda per day. I would like to respond point by point with Dr. David Martosko’s argument. 

• Soft drink consumption causes childhood obesity. I am neither a pediatrician nor a weight loss specialist, but simple calorie-intake mathematics dictates a common-sense solution. Merely eliminate the 10 cans of caffeinated, carbonated citrus or cola beverage at 150 calories per can from the daily diet.
  Substitute water. This yields a caloric reduction of 1,500 calories a day. Voila! Instant weight loss.
  
• Soft drink consumption among kids leads to caffeine dependence. Again, I am neither a neurologist nor an addiction counselor, but try asking a soda addict to kick the habit. You cannot pry their fingers off that can for their daily fix.
  Neurologically, the headaches that ensue after caffeine cessation are painful and nearly migraine in severity. Thankfully caffeine addiction has not caused the sociological, economic and health consequences of addiction to nicotine, alcohol, illicit drugs and gambling.
  
• Soft drink consumption causes tooth decay. I am a dentist, and my response is—of course it does. The average can of soda contains 12 teaspoons of sugar or sucrose. Drinking 10 cans a day yields 120 excess teaspoons of liquid candy coursing over an adolescent’s fragile teeth. Sugar, by nature, forms a film that glues itself to the enamel. Bacteria propagate on the sugary film and produce acids that etch the enamel. When combined with the citric and carboxylic acids in the soda, the teeth dissolve at an alarming rate.
  Ask any dentist in this area if he cannot examine a young patient, take a few x-rays and then be able to state whether the child is drinking in excess of two citric-based, carbonated caffeinated beverages per day.
  We have a slang term for the malady: “Mountain Dewitis.” I can feel the corporate attorneys preparing their torts and summonses now. Please have them send over their corporate dentists first to help us treat our backlog of patients who are afflicted with soda-induced decay.
  
• Soft drink consumption can deplete the bones of calcium. Once again, I am no orthopedist and do not know a whole lot about bones or nutrition. Pick up a can of your favorite soda and read the ingredients. There are usually only two things in that can that are not artificial—water and sugar. As a dentist, I treat sugar-induced disease every day. I am no fan of sugar. I do like water. 

In closing, I offer a few humble suggestions:

1. Drink water.
2. If you drink soda, limit yourself to two per day.
3. Drink water after you down a soda.
4. Brush your teeth to remove the sugar film and residue left on your teeth from the soda.
5. Drink water.
6. Buy stock in water!