It is definitely hot outside and reaching for a cool refreshing drink is a top priority, but it is important to consider your beverage of choice and the effects it will have on your teeth. Energy and sports drinks are definitely popular, but did you know that these drinks can be extremely damaging to your teeth?
Sports and Energy Drinks Are Highly Acidic
It’s important to remember the purposes of each of these drinks so as not to consume them more often than you should. Energy drinks may provide a pick-me-up during a long day at work, but drinking one or more energy drinks everyday can damage your teeth in the long run.
Sports drinks were made to keep your body hydrated and energized during bouts of intense exercise. While they may be beneficial during a good workout, these drinks should never take the place of water and should not be consumed casually or on a daily basis.
The reason for this is that both energy and sports drinks are highly acidic. Regularly consuming food or drink with high acidity levels wears away your tooth enamel. This makes teeth more susceptible to cavities, tooth discoloration, and sensitivity.
The Combination of Sugar and Acid Packs a Mean Punch
Energy and sports drinks launch a twofold attack on your teeth: while acid weakens the enamel, sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria and contributes to decay. Not a good combo! While sugar-free options are available, the majority of these types of drinks are chock full of sugar. Unfortunately, even the sugar-free versions are still as acidic as their sweet counterparts.
Know The Facts, Protect Your Smile
Believe it or not, the adverse effects these drinks have on teeth isn’t widely known. With 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens consuming energy drinks, and as many as 62 percent consuming at least one sports drink per day, it’s important that people understand how damaging they can be to teeth.
If you have more questions about sports or energy drinks, call us or send us a Facebook message!
Your Auburn Dental Aethetics Team
Image by Flickr user Huw Thomas used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original. The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.