3 Effects that Caffeine has on Kids

Kids are drinking less and less soda with every passing year, which is great news! However, even though kids are drinking less soda, they’re still ingesting increased amounts of caffeine. In fact, around 75% of U.S. kids are consuming some form of caffeine every day. This can be blamed on increased coffee consumption among kids, as well as the popularity of energy drinks. We know that caffeine isn’t healthy for children, but you may not be aware of all the reasons why.

Effects of Caffeine on Kids

Below are 3 things you should know about caffeine before allowing your child to consume foods or beverages that contain it:

1. Caffeine causes an addiction – Caffeine is not only addictive, but it’s actually 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 be tough to break.
2. Caffeine can decrease the calcium in your child’s body – Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it increases the production of urine 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! In fact, for every 100mg of caffeine consumed, 6mg of calcium is lost.
3. Caffeinated beverages are usually acidic – Finally, most of the beverages that contain high amounts of caffeine are also very acidic. As strong as tooth enamel is, it will eventually begin to break down when in contact with a steady stream of acid. Children’s tooth enamel is even more vulnerable than that of adults. 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 in your home. This will benefit your child’s overall health as well as their dental and oral health.

If you live in the Firestone, Colorado area and would like to make an appointment for your child to receive a cleaning and a checkup, please contact Firestone, Colorado today.