Mountain Dew Mouth

Last week I read an article about a dentist donating his time and money to help those with no dental insurance in the Appalachia region. Central Appalachia is number one in America in toothlessness, and Dr. Edwin Smith saw the severity of the situation, mainly affecting children. Using his own resources, Smith created a mobile dental clinic that he travels with a few times a week to help those in need of tooth repair.

The article named the tooth decay problem “Mountain Dew mouth.” While the problem is not specifically caused by Mountain Dew, a product of PepsiCo, the amount of sugar in the drink compared to other soft beverages is significantly higher, thus the name “Mountain Dew mouth.” PepsiCo originally issued a statement saying that soft drinks cannot be blamed for tooth decay. The company said if individuals maintain a balanced diet and brush properly the problem can be avoided.

Two days later when a report of this issue aired on “Good Morning America,” PepsiCo decided to reach out to the dentist and offer support in his efforts to help those in need. A main concern will be to educate the people of the region on proper dental care and following a balanced diet.

I was happy to hear of the action PepsiCo decided to take. Mountain Dew does not solely cause tooth decay and has gotten a bad reputation since “Mountain Dew mouth” has become a common name, but by helping those affected by the problem, PepsiCo is restoring the image of the company and its beverages.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations firm staff member, Laura Macenka. Follow her on Twitter: @lauramacenka