Sport and fitness enthusiasts love sports drinks. In fact, soft and sports drinks have become must-have items for sports enthusiasts. Not only do they help to boost your energy, but also help to quench thirst and leaves you hydrated. Most sports drinks have a sweet taste, thus it becomes hard to consider how the drinks might affect your teeth. Over the years, Soft and sports drinks have become major contributors to teeth issues such as tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and enamel erosion.
1. Enamel erosion
A sports drink with a low ph level causes several oral medical problems, starting with enamel erosion. The sugar found in the soft and sports drinks tends to destroy the hard external teeth layer. Enamel erosion is the result of ongoing acids attacks with every sip of a drink you take. The acid is formed when the bacteria found in your mouth combine with the sugar in the drink.
The tooth enamel lacks the ability to regenerate, thus such drinks can easily cause the enamel to disintegrate. Without the living cells, it is impossible for the enamel to repair itself. As the enamel disintegrate it reaches a point whereby the dentin (naturally yellow shaded) underneath is uncovered. This leads to the beginning of stained teeth.
2. Tooth Stains
Tooth stains are caused by chromogens and phosphoric acid. Most soft drinks consist of phosphoric acid for flavouring purposes. The acid weakens tooth enamel! Once the tooth enamel that helps to protect your tooth is weakened, it becomes more susceptible to stains. Drinks with chromogens substance, which helps to improve the cola color, can cause tooth stains. Drinks with chromogens and phosphoric acid substances make the tooth to appear yellow and dingy.
3. Tooth sensitivity
Another thing that soft and sports drink does to your teeth is cause sensitivity. As discussed above the sugar and caffeine together with the mouth bacteria forms the acid that causes the enamel to wear out. The worn out enamel leaves the dentin exposed, which can cause temperature sensitivity. You will fill a sharp pain when the tooth is exposed to the hot or cold substance.
4. Tooth decay and Tooth cavities
Soft and sports drinks come with decay-causing acids! The drinks consist of a high level of sugars! The sugar combines with bacteria found in your mouth, which results in acid that attacks your teeth. Each sip of these sugary drinks is a one-step further to tooth decay and tooth cavities.
If tooth decay or cavity is left untreated, the tooth might become severely damaged. You will have to extract the tooth, as it can’t be saved. In case you would like to restore your tooth, you will have to undergo a root canal treatment. While undergoing these two dental procedures ideal oral airway device is needed. In fact, during the oral surgeries, the oral airway device helps to keep the patient airway stable and unobstructed.
5. Gum disease
The acid attacks caused by the sugar in the drinks lead to the infection of the structures surrounding the teeth. With the structures surrounding the teeth being infected, avoid periodontal disease is next to impossible. The teeth infection will affect the root cover, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and gums. Sugar and caffeine can also lead to the formation of plague, which causes swollen red gums. Even the so-called sugar-free drinks are not safe for your teeth’s health.
6. Root decay
As discussed above the sugar and high acid levels in soft drinks and sports drinks can cause tooth erosion, cavities, and decay. Untreated tooth cavity can lead to pulp infection or nerve infection. With untreated pulp (soft tissues found in the root canal) infection, you may end up losing your tooth.
The severely damaged tooth is hard to restore, thus, one may need to extract it. You will also need to treat the infected root to be able to restore the tooth using the dental implant and dental crown. During these dental procedures, use of oral airway device is very common to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway. Dentist with IV certification skills is more qualified to perform dental procedures, as the use of IV sedation is very common practices during dental surgery. IV sedation helps to reduce fear and anxiety during tooth extraction or root canal treatment procedures.
7. Bad breath and dry mouth
Bad breath can be linked to soft drinks, thanks to the high quantities of caffeine and sugar. Soft and sports drinks can cause bad breath (Halitosis) and dry mouth (Xerostomia). The drinks contain caffeine and sugars, which creates a good environment for the bacteria that cause bad breath to survive and multiply. The bacteria can also cause a severe drying condition in the mouth. Not only does the drying effect allow the awful smell and bacteria to linger longer, but also reduce the flow of saliva.
Final verdict
Staying hydrated is critical to the overall health of sports and fitness enthusiasts. Soft and sports drinks are better suited for this task. In fact, most soft and sports drinks consist of caffeine and sugar, which helps to speed up dehydration. Unfortunately, while trying to keep your body hydrated, the sugar in the soft or sports drink can cause teeth issues like cavities and sensitivity. There is no denying there is a strong link between teeth problems and soft and sports drinks.
Author Bio:
Ross is a blogger who loves to write especially in the Health vertical. He has written many informative Blogs. He has also written blogs in other verticals too like personal development, unique gifting blogs.
