Sports drinks are very popular these days. Various brands promise benefits from drinking these specialized beverages. One purports to boost electrolyte levels, another to rehydrate you quickly, and yet another to replenish sodium and energy stores.
Many people have come to the realization that soda is not really good for your health. A high sugar content can affect blood glucose levels, lower your immune system function, and cause tooth decay. While some have switched to sugar- free soda, many are now drinking sports drinks as an alternative. A new study shows, however, that sports drinks are not necessarily a healthier alternative -- especially when it comes to your teeth.
The study was an animal study. Researchers at the New York University College of Dentistry used teeth from cows, which they cut in half and placed in top-selling sports drinks. The research team let the teeth soak for 90 minutes. The researchers said this would be the equivalent of sipping on the drinks throughout the day.
The research team found that the enamel coating on the cow teeth was partially eaten away. This created an opportunity for the drinks to leak into bonelike material underneath the enamel of the teeth. This in turn caused the teeth to soften and weaken. Dentists call this condition erosive tooth wear and it can result in tooth damage and tooth loss if not treated. The researchers suggest it is the citric acid in sports drinks that likely causes erosive tooth wear.
They also noted something else that is important to know: brushing your teeth right after having a sports drink could actually cause more damage. Once the sports drink has already softened your tooth enamel, it can be vulnerable to the abrasiveness of toothpaste. They suggest that you drink sports drinks in moderation and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. This allows softened enamel to re-harden.
In another study, a research team evaluated the effect of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages on dental enamel with and without fluoride protection. The beverages used in the study included " Classic," "Diet Coke," "Gatorade," "Red Bull," "Starbucks Frappuccino" coffee, "Dasani" water (bottled), and tap water (control). The enamel surfaces of the teeth were coated with a fluoride treatment varnish. The results showed that Coca-Cola Classic, Gatorade and Red Bull with or without fluoride revealed the highest erosive effect on dental enamel. The research team concluded that both carbonated and non- carbonated beverages had a significant erosive effect on dental enamel and that, surprisingly, fluoride varnish treatments didn't seem to protect enamel surfaces.
It's better to simply drink water when you are thirsty. Once you have rehydrated yourself, you can try eating a little fresh fruit to get some natural sugar that can help to boost energy levels.
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