Many athletes rely on sports drinks while playing because they do a great job at replenishing the electrolytes lost during physical activity. However, drinking them too often can cause dental damage, with many dentists advising against them. Here's a brief guide to the effects sports drinks have on your teeth. 

How Sports Drinks Affect Your Teeth

Sugar

Though sports drinks offer electrolytes like sodium and potassium, they're full of sugar. Sucrose and high fructose corn syrup are ingredients in many energy drinks, with most 12-ounce bottles having 21 grams of sugar. The sugar in the drink, mixed with the streptococcus bacteria in your mouth, creates acid that damages and eats away at your teeth. 

Acid 

Most energy drinks have a high amount of citric acid, which adds flavor but also damages your teeth. Citric acid strips the enamel away, which is the outer layer that protects your teeth. Without enamel, your teeth become more sensitive, and the likelihood of tooth decay and cavities increases. 

How to Prevent Damage From Sports Drinks

Use a Straw

Dentists suggest drinking sports drinks through a straw because straws protect your teeth from the sugar and acid in the drink. They help less of the liquid touch your teeth when you drink, lessening the possibility of tooth decay.

Balance With Water

Water is the best way to remain hydrated, but it's understandable that the benefits of sports drinks are needed when engaging in physical activity. Lessen the negative effects of sports drinks by rinsing your mouth with water after each sip, or drinking water between sips of a sports drink. The water will wash away the sugar and acid, protecting your enamel and teeth. 

Wait Before Brushing Teeth

Since the acid in the drinks softens your enamel, avoid brushing your teeth right after drinking one. Brushing right away can help the acid get deeper into your teeth and gums, which can increase the damage that's done to your teeth. Dentists recommend waiting around 30 to 45 minutes before brushing. 

For help managing the dental effect of sports drinks, visit Augusto S. Fojas, DDS, in Westerville, OH. This family dental practice has been serving the community since 2002, with Dr. Fojas and his team offering compassionate and thorough dental services to their patients. They offer a wide range of dental services, from routine cleanings to cosmetic dentistry. To schedule an appointment, call them at (614) 882-0275. Visit their website for more information.