Sports Drinks and Staining
The sports beverage industry will tell you that dentists are overreacting to the news that sports drinks are really bad for your teeth, but who are you going to trust? Dentists or sports drink lobbyists?
What the 2009 New York University College of Dentistry study shows is that the acids in sports drinks softens enamel and actually weakens the teeth. Some patients who are already susceptible to weaknesses in their teeth may see severe tooth decay and tooth loss as a result of drinking sports drinks.
Sports drinks are very good at hydrating people who run long distances or have hard workouts. This is primarily due to the addition of different electrolytes added to the drinks. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, Vitamin Water, Powerade, and more, all advertise their “health” benefits. What isn’t said is that they are also high in acids that have a serious impact on your teeth.
When the sports drink acids weaken your enamel, your teeth are more porous, which causes staining. Staining can come directly from the colors in the sports drink or any kind of food or staining beverages you consume after the sports drink.
Some ways to prevent staining and other damage to your teeth include:
- Drink sports beverages in moderation and water them down
- Soft enamel will reharden after 30 minutes or so. Wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth with a non-abrasive toothpaste after drinking a sports beverage
- Speak to the dentists at Baystate Dental about using a toothpaste that neutralizes acid and remineralizes your teeth if you are going to drink sports beverages
If your teeth are already seriously stained, you may be a candidate for teeth whitening or porcelain veneers
If you have any questions about sports drinks and teeth staining, and are in Western Massachusetts, please contact the experienced teeth whitening dentists at Baystate Dental PC today.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Teeth Whitening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
