Mountain Dew Mouth Lawsuits. “Mountain Dew Mouth” is the name of a serious tooth decay problem that is plaguing some children who drink large amounts of the popular soft drink made by PepsiCo. Children who may be addicted to the caffeine in the drink are consuming excessive amounts of Mountain Dew, leading to extreme tooth […]
Mountain Dew Mouth Lawsuits. “Mountain Dew Mouth” is the name of a serious tooth decay problem that is plaguing some children who drink large amounts of the popular soft drink made by PepsiCo. Children who may be addicted to the caffeine in the drink are consuming excessive amounts of Mountain Dew, leading to extreme tooth decay and even tooth loss. Unfortunately, PepsiCo. has been slow to respond to the public health threat of Mountain Dew Mouth, and continues to market this sugar and caffeine laden beverage to teenagers and even young children. For that reason, our product liability lawyers are considering filing Mountain Dew Mouth lawsuits against PepsiCo. on behalf of children who have been plagued by tooth loss and tooth decay because of this soft drink.
If your child has suffered from excessive tooth decay or tooth loss, and you think Mountain Dew could be to blame, your family might be able to obtain compensation by filing a Mountain Dew Mouth lawsuit. Our firm is offering free legal consultations to victims of Mountain Dew Mouth. To find out how our product liability lawyers can help you, please contact us today for your free Mountain Dew mouth lawsuit evaluation.
Mountain Dew Mouth first gained national attention in 2009, when ABC News aired a report about the problem among children living in Appalachia. It appears that the combination of poverty and the availability of the sugary soft drink had led to an epidemic of Mountain Dew Mouth in the region. Dentists manning mobile clinics that serve Appalachia’s poor said they have seen a level of tooth decay and tooth loss in children there that is more commonly found in senior citizens.
Mountain Dew contains the highest levels of caffeine of any soft drink. To cover up the bitter taste caused by the caffeine, Mountain Dew also contains higher amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup than other sodas. The drink is also highly acidic. All of that together creates a formula that can be highly toxic to tooth enamel in children who consume excessive amounts of Mountain Dew.
Unfortunately, many poverty-stricken Appalachian children do just that. According to ABC News, victims of Mountain Dew Mouth have reported routinely purchasing large bottles of Mountain Dew, which they drink throughout the day. One dentist told ABC News that taking frequent sips of Mountain Dew, such as one every 20 minutes, all day long is akin to bathing the teeth in sugar every day. Filling baby bottles with Mountain Dew and feeding it to young babies was also found to be a common practice. Some babies and toddlers have been diagnosed with Mountain Dew Mouth after dentists discovered 12 or more cavities in their first row of baby teeth.
The same dentist also told ABC News that Appalachia’s children are addicted to Mountain Dew. Experts believe the combination of high sugar and high caffeine contributes to this problem. Dentists also told ABC that because of Mountain Dew’s high caffeine content, it appeared that it is used as a kind of anti-depressant for children in poverty stricken areas.
PepsiCo.’s initial response to the ABC News report on Mountain Dew Mouth was to lash out angrily, and call the idea of a link between the soft drink and tooth decay “preposterous,” asserting that foods like raisins and cookies pose more danger to the teeth. But after the report aired, PepsiCo. softened its stance somewhat, issuing a second statement in which it said its products could be part of a balanced diet if consumed in moderation. The statement went on to say that the company was working with schools, non-profit groups and governments to educate people and encourage them to lead healthier lifestyles.
Unfortunately, PepsiCo. has still not changed the way it markets Mountain Dew. It continues to target young people in the marketing of Mountain Dew, the group most vulnerable to Mountain Dew Mouth. The company has also failed to reduce the amount of caffeine and sugar contained in Mountain Dew, the two ingredients that make it both addictive and dangerous to teeth.
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
