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Over consumption of ‘sugar based’ sports drinks among teens will have a crippling effect on the healthcare system due to the increase in incidence of diabetes.

A Manhattan dentist warns parents and teenagers to reduce their ‘sugar intake’ from sports drinks.

M. Marc Liechtung, DMD the practice owner at Manhattan Dental Arts, inventor of the Snap-on-smile and a leading  cosmetic dentist in Manhattan says he sees the effects weekly at his dental practice and in the street during his lunch hour he sees what he calls ‘excessive consumption.”

He cites recent news articles and government surveys to back up his claims saying that education regarding excessive sugar consumption especially from energy drinks should begin at home from the parents and if it’s not he often educates the parents so that they can educate the children.

The CDC Vital Signs report showed that sugar consumption was the highest among New Yorkers ( from age birth to 5 years) and warns that even mothers giving children oraganic apple juice could be termed ‘excessive sugar consumption’ . A report from the CDC Vital Signs report was carried out for the first time in 2015. It was found that Latino and Black children were 3 or 4 times higher for sugar consumption (31 and 28 percent, respectively) than White children (8 percent).

This is hardly surprising since the manufacturers of these drinks and beverage companies in the US have spent approximately $3.2 billion in the marketing carbonated beverages in 2006, with nearly a half billion dollars of that marketing aimed directly at youth ages 2–17.

A recent study compared 2010 consumption to 2017. It was found that among 27000 high school participants the overall proportion of teens having a sports drink at least once in the previous week had risen from 56 per cent in 2010 to nearly 58 per cent in 2015, which is a slight but still worrying difference.

Arkadiy Takhalov, MD is a pediatrician in Forest Hills offering comprehensive pediatric care for children from birth to aged 21.

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M. Marc Liechtung, DMD says he sees a worrying incidence of periodontal disease at his Manhattan practice and urges diabetic patients to take extra care and never miss check ups.

 M. Marc Liechtung, DMD says he sees a worrying incidence of periodontal disease at his Manhattan practice and urges diabetic patients to take extra care and never miss check ups.

A recent report from the New York City Department of Health published in 2012 {1} placed the Bronx as the epicenter of diabetes in the US with an astonishing one in three people in the borough suffering from diabetes. Such is the extent of this condition in the US that 20.8 million people or approximately 7% of the population have been diagnosed with this chronic disease. The statistics for the Bronx were alarming: Riverdale and Kingsbridge has 7.3% of the population suffering from diabetes. The Fordham-Bronx Park area reports the incidence of diabetes at 14.6% — the highest in the city.

I have seen the incidence of periodontal disease due to diabetes increase among my patients. The more worrying fact is that according to {2} another report I recently read 30% of the population who have diabetes do not yet know that they have it. It is also a fact that the Chelsea-Greenwich area shows the lowest rate at 4.1 percent.

According to a separate 2013 report the ADA (American Diabetes Association®) has stated that the actual cost of diagnosed diabetic treatment in the USA was $245 billion in 2012, which included $176 billion incurred in direct medical costs. The prevalence of diabetes would cost a further $69 billion in reduced productivity. The huge cost which is between $150,000 and $200,000 per person in 2012 to provide dialysis annually for a single patient with diabetes and kidney disease, will undoubtedly in years to come exert an enormous strain on our health system as it looks like the incidence of diabetes in the US will continue to increase.

The effects of diabetes on periodontal disease.

There is an abundance of evidence these days to support the relationship between periodontal infections and poor glycemic control in diabetic patients. There is also abundant evidence to show {4} the effect of periodontal disease on diabetes mellitus. One study {5} found that the periodontal tissue acts as a harbor for a chronic source of bacteria and a host of inflammatory mediators. These have been found to have an effect on lipids and a patient’s glucose metabolism. They have also reported to be insulin antagonists and can cause insulin resistance. There is undoubtedly a two way relationship between periodontitis and diabetes. Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk for periodontitis and and unfortunately periodontal inflammation has a negative effect on glycemic control.

Therefore with such strong evidence that the link is there it is important that New Yorkers who are diabetic or pre-diabetic see their dentist regularly and if required make an appointment with their periodontist. If you have poor sugar control you have increased chances of getting periodontitis. If you are diabetic your case of periodontitis will be harder to treat and unfortunately you will be prone to losing more teeth.

M. Marc Liechhtung, DMD is the practice owner and cosmetic dentist at Manhattan Dental Arts.  The practice offers all types of cosmetic and general dentistry including dental cleanings, teeth whitening, INVISALIGN, dental implants, porcelain veneers, dental crowns ,  smile makeovers, Snap-on-smile, root canal treatments, periodontics, emergency dentistry and all types of cosmetic dentistry. Manhattan Dental Arts also owns New Rochelle Dental Arts in New Rochelle offering all types of general and cosmetic dentistry.

Dr. M. Marc Liechtung is a practice owner at Manhattan Dental Arts where he is a cosmetic dentist having owned his practice for 22 years.

{1}https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/diseases/conditions/diabetes/d...

{2} https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/epi/diabetes_chart_bo...

{3} http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/780341

{4} https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881811/

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Periodontal advice for patients with diabetes..... by M.Marc Liechtung, DMD

As a dentist in Manhattan we see a high incidence of diabetes among our patients. I sometimes think that we don’t see enough education towards young people at schools about the effects of diabetes. Many would be surprised to learn that diabetes can severely affect your dental health in later years. Diabetes is a debilitating condition that affects your eyes, kidneys, nerves, kidneys and your heart as well as other organs. Unfortunately it can severely affect dental health. Patients who have poor glucose control can expect poor teeth and gums and having poor tooth and gums will cause poor glucose control. It is a very unfortunate situation whereby poor sugar control increases your chances of periodontitis. This will only be worse if you are diabetic. Therefore having periodontitis will be harder to treat and will cause you to lose more teeth. A systemic disease such as diabetes affects the whole body and the worrying part of this chronic infection is that it is often hidden from a patient’s view. This is a problem due to the fact when it becomes advanced it causes weak teeth, bone loss and bleeding gums that can be painful to chew. Eventually these teeth can become decayed and will require removal. Below is some advice that every diabetic should follow: If you have periodontitis make sure that you see the periodontist regularly. If you develop an acute infection such as an abscess then this is considered a dental emergency and should be treated immediately, whether you have poor glucose control or not. The abscess may be causing the poor glucose control. Have meals at regular times the same time every day. Pay attention to your carbohydrate intake. People with diabetes should have their teeth checked every six months but my advice is that you should go every three months. If you change dentist make sure that your new dentist knows that you have diabetes. Reduce smoking or stop smoking immediately. This has a terrible effect on periodontal health. If you wear dentures make sure that you remove them every day and clean them every day to prevent thrush. Thrush is a yeast-fungus infection that thrives on high glucose levels. Use a gentle brush and use soft circular motions. The most important thing is to find a periodontist that you are comfortable with and that gives you an honest opinion on your dental health. If you case is severe see the periodontist every three months. M. Marc Liechhtung, DMD is the practice owner and cosmetic dentist at Manhattan Dental Arts.  The practice offers all types of cosmetic and general dentistry including dental cleanings, teeth whitening, INVISALIGN, dental implants, porcelain veneers, dental crowns ,  smile makeovers, Snap-on-smile, root canal treatments, periodontics, emergency dentistry and all types of cosmetic dentistry. Manhattan Dental Arts also owns New Rochelle Dental Arts in New Rochelle offering all types of general and cosmetic dentistry.