A propensity to wolf down sugary snacks and drinks while
absorbed in the on-screen action meant gamers who spend long hours with a
controller in their hands are twice as likely to develop tooth decay.
The University of Iowa study is the latest in a growing list
of video game-related ills highlighted by academics, ranging from
depression and obesity to violent behavior.
The research, which focused on adolescents between the ages of
12 to 16, also found that those who had parental rules regarding screen
time and diet were less likely to eat or drink while watching TV and
playing games than those who did not.
Sugary snacks combined with soft drinks have emerged as the
main culprit in teenage tooth decay.
Researchers found as gamers blew things up on screen, their
teeth came under relentless attack from sugar reacting with bacteria
found in plaque, producing harmful acids. It is estimated that for every
sugary treat, teeth come under acid attack for up to an hour.
