Sports drinks are very popular in the United States and in 2019, sales from sports drinks in the country were over $10 billion. When the weather is very hot and causes you to sweat a cold sports drink can feel refreshing and rehydrating. Before, during, and after engaging in physical activity or a sporting event sports drinks are consumed widely. While drinking one of these specialized beverages may help you refuel and replenish yourself after you put forth the maximum effort, what is often forgotten with these drinks is the amount of sugar that they contain. The acid and sugars that are formulated into your favorite sports drink could be causing your enamel to erode.

If your teeth are feeling sensitive or you are having pain in your mouth, seeing your local San Diego general dentist is a good way to have your oral health examined. You may have developed a cavity or your tooth enamel could be eroded. Your San Marcos family dentist can advise you on what treatment options are available to help fix and strengthen your smile. In addition, your San Diego dentist can also give you valuable feedback and tips about what lifestyle adjustments you can make to preserve your teeth.

How To Sip on Sports Drinks Safely

Because the ingredients in many sports drinks can be damaging to your teeth enamel, there are some best practices you can engage in that may reduce the damage including:

• If you must drink something sugary and acidic like a sports beverage instead of water, limit the amount of time you take to finish your drink. Keeping a sports drink in your purse or in your hand and just taking sips throughout the day interferes with your saliva production. Saliva is incredibly important to helping you digest your food properly, washing away debris and bacteria in your mouth, and it also has nutrients that protect your tooth enamel.
• If you drink a sports drink or any other type of beverage, it is always a good idea to drink water after. Water can wash away damaging acid that sits on the surface of your teeth and it will be critical to helping your mouth maintain appropriate pH levels.
• Acid left on the teeth from food and beverages can actually diminish the minerals in your enamel. So if you have just eaten or drank something other than water and you brush your teeth straight away, you could potentially be scrubbing away some of that protective enamel. The best thing to do right after is to drink water. Then give your mouth some time to adjust so that your saliva can help your mouth get back to the right pH level. If you wait about an hour after eating or drinking a non-water beverage,  you will provide your mouth with enough time to neutralize which will also fortify your enamel so it can stand up to brushing.

Make an Appointment with a San Diego Dentist Today

Water is always best but if you must drink something else, remember to follow up with water if possible. For any of your oral health questions or to schedule a full dental examination and professional teeth cleaning in San Diego, please call McBride Dental today at (760) 471-1003.