Your Teeth Could Take Damage from Too Many Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are meant to help athletes stay hydrated. These drinks contain chemicals known as electrolytes. While the electrolytes help the nerves and muscles perform optimally, energy drinks could significantly damage your teeth. Here are ways sports drinks can affect your oral health.

How Sports Drinks Can Affect Your Teeth

Several lab tests and studies have shown that sports drinks contain high levels of sugar and acids. A high concentration of these components can put your teeth at risk of dental cavities. Acids can also wear down your tooth enamel and weaken it. Sports drinks create an acidic condition that interferes with the structure of the enamel, exposing the underlying nerves and dentin. This will not only result in tooth sensitivity but also dental stains.

Sports drinks also contain sugars that are equally harmful. These sugars feed bacteria in your mouth and increase the risk of infections. The already existing acidic conditions also make your teeth vulnerable. When these factors are combined, they make it easy for bacteria to penetrate the enamel and cause tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

While sports drinks can leave extensive damage on your teeth, there are things you can do to limit the damage. For instance, you can drink them using a straw. This is important because it helps limit contact with your teeth. As a result, there is reduced damage. You can also sip the drink slowly to allow saliva to wash away the acids. Taking sports drinks quickly won’t allow sufficient time for saliva to eliminate acids and other harmful bacteria. If you are suffering from the effects of sports drinks, you should stop taking them altogether and schedule an appointment with us. Your teeth could be damaged extensively, and immediate care will be key. Get in touch with us for more information on the effects of sports drinks.

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