Englewood Cliffs NJ Dentist Discusses how Caffeine Affects Kids

Remember when you were a kid and your parents told you that drinking coffee as a child would stunt your growth? This is certainly a popular thought, but there are other consequences to drinking coffee that both children and adults can suffer from. Your Englewood Cliffs NJ dentist breaks down the myth of how good coffee really is for you and what the real root of the problem is: caffeine.

When you’re a kid, it’s important to consume extra nutrition in order to grow big and strong! This means eating a lot of fruits, vegetables, protein, and other helpful foods and drinks that will keep your energy up, as well as keeping you healthy in more ways than one. So when kids consume caffeine like coffee and sodas, they can act as an appetite suppressor that results in a poor dietary intake and actually reduce your growth. You’re not receiving the proper nutrients by over-consuming caffeine.

Not everybody is affected by the stunted growth, but it is true that the lesser amount of caffeine that you consume, the more likely you are to have a better, healthier diet since you eat more fruits and dairy.

Kids consume caffeine in many ways, mostly including sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks. This can also result in cavities and tooth decay much easier and faster than one may think! Combined with the large amounts of caffeine, these drinks are also high in tooth-damaging acidity that weakens and damages the protective surface of your teeth, making it softer and vulnerable. In many studies, it is proven that kids have higher chances of suffering from tooth decay than adults.

There are other reasons why caffeine is harmful towards your overall health, especially for children, so don’t be afraid to look more into it! Your Englewood Cliffs NJ dentist wants to protect your smile, so call our office at (201) 461-5400 to schedule an appointment today!