When discussing sport drinks, it’s generally understood that sugar is the leading cause of tooth decay and tooth rot in these types of liquids. Sport drinks in general have so much sugar that the negative effects of these types of drinks are seen almost immediately, regardless of the age of the person in question.

The tooth-related danger to both children and adults in sports drinks and energy drinks comes not from the sugar content but from their general acidity. A recent study published by the General Dentistry journal revealed that these types of drinks contain such a significant amount of acid that they begin destroying the teeth of the person drinking them in as little as five days.

Because enamel cannot be regrown after it is damaged, the effects are irreparable. When the enamel on a tooth becomes damaged, that tooth becomes sensitive both to the touch and to extreme cases of hot and cold temperatures. This will be most obviously noticeable while the teenager is eating or drinking.

Once the enamel is damaged, the teeth in question also become more susceptible to cavities and to decay in general.

While adults do not drink sports drinks at nearly the frequently that teenagers do (at least as far as statistics are concerned), the damage can still be quite severe.

What can you do?

If a person insists on maintaining a steady diet of sports drinks regardless of their age, it is important that they take a few key steps to protect their teeth in any way that they can.

• It is recommend that people who consume these types of drinks on a regular basis rinse their mouths out with water immediately after consumption.
• If water is not an option, chewing a piece of sugar-free gum will also have the same effect.
• It is also recommend that people wait at least one hour to brush their teeth after drinking sports drinks. Brushing sooner could cause the toothbrush itself to spread the acid around the teeth
• Have regular dental check-ups