There is a common misconception that sports drinks are a healthier choice than other common drinks, such as pop or fruit juice. But in fact, they can cause serious damage to your teeth.
Sports drinks are often touted as energy boosting and healthier than pop and juice, and so many people believe that these drinks are good for you. In reality, sports drinks are often very high in sugar, salt, and calories, which means that, when consumed in excess, they’re really not that healthy.
Sports drinks also contain high levels of acidity. That, in combination with the above mentioned sugar, means that sports drinks can cause some serious damage to your teeth.
How are sports drinks bad for teeth?
The acid in these drinks, and that created by the bacteria that feed on sugars in your mouth, break down the enamel and the dentin of your teeth, eventually resulting in cavities. This breakdown of enamel also causes tooth sensitivity to temperature change and touch.
Should I stop allowing my child to drink sports drinks?
At Smile Town North Delta, we suggest you approach sports drinks as you would any food or drink that’s high in calories and sugar. That is, they’re fine as an occasional treat, but they shouldn’t be an everyday indulgence.
And of course, paying extra attention brushing and flossing after a treat is always a good idea!
What should my child drink instead?
The best drink you can choose to quench your child’s thirst is (you guessed it) water.
If your child wants something with some additional flavor, you can experiment with adding different fruits or even veggies to the water. Citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, or limes add some zip and sweetness, and adding some cucumber slices can be very refreshing!