Most sports and energy drinks are
loaded with sugar. In the short-term, they can re-energize you and rehydrate
you somewhat. But if you drink several a day you are putting your teeth at
serious risk. How? The sugar in the sports drink can combine with the bacteria in placque that has adhered
to your tooth’s surface. These acids
erode the enamel surface leading to cavities.
So is soda better for you than a sports or energy drink? According to a study contracted by the Academy of General Dentistry it is.
The AGD study considered what continuous exposure to a variety of “soft” drinks would do to your teeth, specifically the enamel portion of the tooth, over a 14-day period. Continuous exposure was considered several servings over the course of a 12-hour period.
The results revealed the erosion of a tooth’s enamel in milligrams:
·
Snapple
Classic Lemonade – 30mg
·
Red Bull –
22mg
·
Gatorade (lemon-lime)
– 20mg
·
Propel
Fitness Water – 14mg
·
Arizona Iced
Tea – 9 mg
·
Coca Cola –
3mg
So, technically, soda is better for your teeth than the sports drinks that promise to restore your electrolytes and other health benefits. But does that mean dentists endorse soda over sports drinks? Hardly.
The lesser of two evils is still an evil. What that study doesn’t reveal is that good old fashioned water from the tap doesn’t cause any erosion of your teeth over any amount of exposure. It also has no calories. And, depending on your community, even offers fluoride.
Of course, it’s probably not realistic to think that people can drink only water and never have a soft drink. Moderation, as it is with everything, is the key. And if you want to have a sports drink or soda, be sure to brush or at least rinse your mouth out with water shortly after to lessen the exposure to those sugars can do.
