The Solution Becomes the Problem--Again

Great body. Nasty-looking teeth.

According to a health report in the April 7, 2008 issue of USA Today, a growing number of teens may face that problem if they don't take some radical steps to stop the destruction of those teeth their parent's spent thousands of dollars straightening. The report states that the high acid content of some fruit juices, energy drinks, and sodas is doing a number on the enamel of a significant number of adolescents. A fit and healthy teenage athlete may be slowly destroying his teeth by consuming large volumes of citrus juices and power drinks.

Again the solution to one problem can become the cause of another if both the problem and its remedy are not approached in the context of the entire system--in this case, the system of how the body works and what it means to be healthy. While discouraging a kid from always having a soda can in his hand is a good start, shifting his attention to other acid-laden drinks may cut down on the sugar intake, but not reduce the extent of the acid bath a child's teeth get each day. Carbonic acid, citric acid, and phosphoric acid also appear in some power beverages and juices.

When implementing a solution, effective critical thinkers give attention to asking, "What could go wrong?" The erosion of the teeth of otherwise healthy teens reminds us that when we ask what could go wrong--we need to look at the entire system or our brilliant solution may hold within it the seeds of another dilemma.

Comments

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hi
Excellent work as usual. Chill out about the updates though, we're good as long as you keep up with it...G8