A kids’ dentist gives schools a “C” for children’s health. Dr Jonathan Shenkin is a resident in pediatric dentistry and says soda causes cavities but also obesity in kids and teens. Shenkin says schools collecting profits from pop machines might hate losing the money, but he suggests everyone wins if they replace the soft drinks with water, fruit juice and milk. He cites studies showing drinking dairy products actually protect against obesity. Since fat kids are more at risk for heart disease and diabetes, Shenkin says it’s a concern for more than their dentist.
