Sport Drinks and Your Teeth

Published Mar 09 2010

Many people do not realize how harmful the liquids that they drink can be to their teeth. Athletes chug their sport drinks, caffeine junkies guzzle energy drinks and sodas, and health nuts sip fruit juice, but tests prove all these liquids are corrosive to tooth enamel regardless of their calorie content! Can you guess which one is the worst for your teeth?

Contrary to popular belief, the worst drink for tooth enamel is actually sports drinks. The massive amount of sugar and sodium you drink in these liquids tears at tooth enamel more than even the worst of energy drinks! Athletes who are constantly drinking a sports drink from the bench or on the sidelines frequently develop increased tooth sensitivity that requires special treatment from their dentists.

If you are an athlete, there are other ways to get hydrated without putting your teeth at risk! Here is a helpful replacement to these corrosive sports drinks.

For hydration purposes, drink ice water with just a dash of salt in it — the water hydrates you naturally and the salt replenishes electrolytes. This drink combination also eliminates consumption of acid like that contained in a sports drink. A water solution is also a healthier alternative, consisting of solely water (which comprises 60% of your body!) and the essential mineral salt, rather than the extra sugars and preservatives found in sports drinks.

As an athlete, a sports drink may seem a great way to hydrate yourself and to replenish the electrolytes you lose through sweat, but do not be fooled by its taste or popularity. If you over-consume sports drinks on a daily basis, your teeth will be suffering.