Mountain Dew Mouth

Most traditional carbonated soft drinks (usually, Americans call it 'soda' or 'pop'[1]) contain large amounts of sugar and citric acid. Both of which can seriously damage teeth. But in Appalachia, the region stretching from southern New York to Alabama, the impact of carbonated soft drinks is even more severe.

Dental problems are widespread there, partly because access to dental care is limited. Appalachia includes some of the poorest and most remote communities in the United States, where clinics are scarce and treatment is expensive[2]. Many residents also distrust their well water due to pollution concerns, leading them to drink more soda instead.

Another factor is cultural. In much of Appalachia, people sip carbonated soft drinks continuously throughout the day. In West Virginia, it is common to see people carrying large bottles of Mountain Dew everywhere, even at public health conferences. Mountain Dew, a sickly greenish coloured carbonated soft drink, is very high in both sugar and citric acid, and it has deep regional roots: the drink was created in Tennessee in the 1940s and later acquired by PepsiCo in 1964.

The consequences are stark. About 26 percent of preschoolers in the region already show signs of tooth decay. Among 18‑ to 24‑year‑olds, 15 percent have had at least one tooth removed because of decay or erosion. Older adults fare even worse: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 67 percent of West Virginians aged 65 or older have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease.

Despite the nickname Mountain Dew Mouth, the problem is not limited to one brand. Nearly all sugary carbonated soft drinks contribute to the widespread dental damage seen across Appalachia (and the rest of the US).

To counter the negative publicity, Mountain Dew has changed its name to Mtn Dew. That'll help.

[1] Luanne von Schneidemesser: Soda or Pop? in Journal of English Linguistics - 1996
[2] Priscilla Harris: Undoing the Damage of the Dew in Florida A&M University College of Law – 2009. See here.