According to a study, around two-thirds of the participants, in a majority of 80% of male athletes, have been reported to consume sports and energy drinks, gels, or bars at least once a week, the commonest being Sting.
Despite having good oral hygiene, athletes generally have poor oral health and higher risk of dental problems that cause gingivitis, irreversible periodontitis, and tooth erosion.
About 80% of athletes experience at least one oral problem that has a negative impact on their daily activities.
Impact Of Sports Drinks On Your Teeth
Athletes are generally at higher risk of oral health problems for several reasons. For peak performance, athletes in competitive sports frequently consume foods, beverages, and sports drinks that are rich in carbohydrates and energy.
The main dangers of sports and energy drinks come from higher levels of sugar content and acids. These drinks contain enough acid to damage your teeth just within five days of regular consumption.
Some energy drinks contain 50 – 60 grams of sugar, which is a total of 14 teaspoons of sugar, and the combination of sugar and acid present in sports drinks can damage your enamel, which leads to the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
It has been found that acid in energy drinks can gradually destroy your tooth enamel. When your teeth enamel is damaged, it makes your mouth prone to bacteria due to lack of protection from enamel.
Negative Effects Of Energy Drinks On Dental Health
Energy drinks are packed with unhealthy ingredients like herbal stimulants, preservatives, high caffeine levels, carbohydrates, calories, and extremely high levels of sugar.
The excessive sugar in energy drinks can make your teeth susceptible to cavities that can harm your tooth enamel and put your teeth at a higher risk of decay.
Tooth Decay And Cavities
Certain ingredients and high sugar levels in drinks can promote cavities and tooth decay, such as –
- Preservatives
- Artificial Colours
- Extreme levels of caffeine
- Empty calories
- Additives
- Single carbohydrates
Some brands contain over 50 – 60 grams of sugar in a single can. This amount of sugar can cause serious damage to your overall oral health and physical health.
High sugar consumption feeds bad bacteria in the mouth that produce plaque and tartar and acids that destroy enamel and lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Permanent Enamel Damage
The high acidity of sports or energy drinks can lower the PH level of saliva, which reduces its protective properties and exposes teeth to acid damage.
Tooth enamel damaged by acidic sports drinks will not regrow and are susceptible to serious oral health issues.
Possible side effects of damaging tooth enamel are –
- Sensitivity to hot and cold beverages
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
- Pain and discomfort
- Plaque build-up
- Cavities
- Tooth decay
Teeth Sensitivity
Enamel is a protective covering of the delicate, sensitive inner layers of the tooth. When tooth enamel is damaged, the inner layers of teeth are exposed to foods, air, and drinks. This exposure can cause sensitivity and discomfort, especially when consuming hot or cold beverages.
Gum Disease
Damaged enamel also leaves teeth susceptible to gum recession. When the gums recede, the tooth roots can be exposed and cause additional sensitivity. It may also lead to painful, inflamed, or bleeding gums.
Once the gum line recedes, it can create pockets where bacteria can easily build up below the gum line. This can lead to severe gum disease, decay, and even tooth loss if left untreated.
Tips To Minimize Damage To Your Teeth
There are several ways and safety measures that can be taken to prevent the damage that can be caused due to drinking sports drinks.
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Take Good Care Of Your Teeth And Gums
You should effectively clean your teeth and gums by washing away the acid and sugar by brushing and flossing after having an energy drink.
Taking good care and maintaining optimal oral health helps to eliminate the disease-causing bacteria from your mouth that damage your enamel, leading to tooth decay.
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Avoid Sipping Energy Drinks For Too Long
You can’t clean your mouth while already drinking energy drinks, so avoid sipping your energy drinks for too long. Try to drink your energy drinks relatively quickly to prevent acid damage or break down your tooth enamel.
Sipping on energy drinks for a longer period of time can increase the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
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Have Energy Drinks In Moderation
Everything is great when taken in moderation, and you should not drink energy drinks regularly. But, if you are a diehard fan or need to drink energy or sports drinks every day, you must take precautions to prevent your favorite beverages from damaging your teeth and gums.
Need Help To Maintain Your Oral Health? Our Caring Team Is Here to Help
With excessive sugar, high caffeine, and acids, energy drinks affect your teeth in various negative ways. We recommend avoiding sports and energy drinks, but we also understand you may still want to enjoy one now and then.
By rinsing your mouth with water after consuming energy drinks, waiting to brush your teeth, plan a dental health check up every 6 months, and using a straw, you can minimize tooth decay from energy drinks.
At Dacula Dental, We are always available to help maintain your and your family’s dental health, and we constantly inform you about the best foods and drinks that you can have to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
Looking For A Dental Clinic? We Are Here To Help!
Final Thoughts
Energy drinks are seriously bad for your and your family’s dental health, as they contain high sugar and acid.
You are recommended to drink plenty of water to wash away the sugar and acid from your mouth and do not brush your teeth straight after drinking it.
If you do drink energy drinks, you are advised to rinse your mouth with water to prevent acid from spreading on the tooth surface, which can cause erosion or tooth decay.
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