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Sports and energy drinks are increasingly producing irreversible damage to teeth.
The high acidity level in the drinks is eating away at the tooth enamel at an alarming rate. The information comes from the May/June issue of General Dentistry.
The goal of the drinks is to enable athletes to improve performance and provide an added energy boost. The actual result, however, is an acid bath for teeth.
The research team analyzed the acidity levels of 22 sports and energy drinks, 13 of which were classified as sport drinks. The acidity levels varied based on the brand and flavor of the beverage. To compile the information, the researchers soaked samples of human teeth for 15 minutes and then soaked the teeth in saliva for 2 hours. This was done four times per day for five days.
The enamel damage was abundantly clear after the five-day period. As bad as the sports drinks were, the research team concluded the energy drinks were twice as bad as the sports drinks.
Changes clearly need to be made in the way these drinks are viewed. Roughly 30 to 50 percent of teens consume energy drinks and almost two-thirds drink at least one sports beverage each day. That’s why it’s essential for parents and their children to learn that once the damage from these drinks is caused, it’s irreversible.
One of the ways to combat the effects of the sports and energy drinks is by chewing sugar-free gum or rinsing with water after consuming the drinks. It’s also important to wait at least an hour to brush after drinking these sugary beverages to avoid spreading the acid throughout the mouth.
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