Sports drinks are a common fixture at kids’ practices and games. Though you may have seen commercials lauding how they hydrate and restore lost electrolytes for a young athlete, these drinks tend to do more harm than good. Understand why your dentist would recommend water instead of sports drinks.

A Dentist’s Guide to Hydration for Young Athletes

The Ingredients in Sports Drinks

Sports drinks were designed for adult athletes who push their bodies very hard and need to quickly restore the lost electrolytes they sweat out. However, they are also full of sugar. For example, a 20-ounce Lemon-Lime Gatorade has 34 grams of sugar. Dentists and doctors recommend that children under 18 have no more than 25 grams of sugar per day.

In addition to their overall health, all that sugar is detrimental to your child’s oral health. When the sugar interacts with bacteria in the mouth, such as Streptococcus mutans, it creates an acid. This coats the teeth, building up along the gumline and between the teeth. It eats through the enamel on teeth and cannot be restored once it is lost. Enamel is a tooth’s protective coating that keeps it from being sensitive or decaying, so that acid can do permanent, lifelong damage.

Why Water Is Best

Water has no sugar and is a neutral pH. It will keep young athletes hydrated without causing a harmful reaction inside their mouths. Teaching young athletes to drink water when they exercise sets a healthy precedent for life, especially when you think about how many practices and games they will have. If they need to restore electrolytes and get a little bit of sugar, give them a piece of fruit such as an orange. The occasional sports drink is okay when they push themselves particularly hard if they rinse out their mouth with water or brush their teeth afterward.

Dr. John M. Schulte at North Ft. Mitchell Dentistry offers complete dental care services for the entire family in Covington, KY. From routine dental exams to treating cavities, this dentist provides all that your young athletes need for a healthy start to life. Clients appreciate their industry-leading technology and individualized care. See their full list of services online, and call (859) 331-0763 to schedule an appointment.