The Big No-No: Sports Drinks
Sports are in full swing once again, and many children are participating. Which leads to one common question among coaches, parents, and your dentist.
Should I, or should I not, send my kids to practice with a sports drink?
The American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and, the American Academy of Pediatrics are all in agreement when they recommend that you don’t give your children sports drinks as a means to keep them hydrated. Water is still the best and most effective method to ward off dehydration while playing sports.
Here’s why: Sports drinks were created mainly for adult athletes who were practicing for hours on end in extremely hot weather conditions. The formula created for said sports drinks was intended to keep the athlete hydrated while replenishing electrolytes that were lost due to extreme sweating.
Most children who are playing sports are not playing in extremely hot weather conditions for countless hours each day. Therefore, the purpose of sports drinks is invalid.
The Facts
A study published by the journal General Dentistry found that sports drinks, also known as energy drinks, contain excessive amounts of acid that will start destroying teeth after only five days of regular consumption.
The damage to tooth enamel can cause teeth to become sensitive to touch and temperature, and also opens them up to cavities and tooth decay.
Researcher Poonam Jain, BDS, MPH, associate professor and director of community dentistry at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, says, “The big misconception is that energy drinks and sports drinks are healthier than soda for oral health.”
In another recently published article, Sarbin Ranjitkar, BDS, PhD, states, “Our research has shown that permanent damage to the tooth enamel will occur within the first 30 seconds of high acidity coming into contact with the teeth. This is an important finding and it suggests that such drinks are best avoided.” You can read the full report here.
Easy Solution
Water is still the best way to keep your child hydrated according to the AAPD, ADA. and the AAP by sticking with water you avoid unwanted tooth decay and other dental problems. No one really wants to spend unnecessary time at the dentist office, right?
~ Dr. Rhea Haugseth
Rhea M. Haugseth, DMD maintained a private practice in Marietta, GA from 1982- 2017. She attended the University of Louisville Dental School and completed her pediatric dental residency at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital / Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is proud to be a Fellow the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy – National Honorary Organizations for Dentists.
Dr. Haugseth is a Past President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SSPD), and the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry(GaPD). Dr. Haugseth has been a National Spokesperson for the AAPD since 1989 and has been frequently interviewed for radio, print, and national television.
Dr. Haugseth is the Founder (2013) and Director of the Atlanta Pediatric Dental Assistant School in Atlanta Georgia. She is also the Founder (2014) and Director of the Pediatric Dental Team Association. She is committed to pediatric dental team members and continues to develop ways to enhance their knowledge and skills both in and out of the dental office.