– The Affiliated Dental Specialists recommend that children and adolescents do not consume sports and energy drinks to avoid harm to their oral health. “Our job is to keep our patients’ mouths healthy,” says Dr. Cameron Wagner, a Buffalo Grove kids’ dentist and oral health expert. “That means educating them about dietary guidelines and ways to protect their teeth, gums and mouth.”
The latest nutrition update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to skip sugary beverages and choose water to drink instead. The American Academy of Pediatrics took the USDA recommendations and applied them specifically to their patients, warning that sports and energy drinks are unnecessary and detrimental to children and adolescents.
Sports drinks were created to replace electrolytes lost via sweat by athletes participating in prolonged, vigorous exercise. Energy drinks are designed to provide a quick, temporary boost using a mix of sugar, B-vitamins and stimulants, such as caffeine and guarana.
Both beverages are acidic and sugary, contribute to major health problems like obesity and can lead to dental erosion and caries, according to the sedation dentistry specialist. This risk is increased when they are consumed during or after exercising when the person’s saliva flow is decreased.
“Just like soda and fruit juice, energy and sports drinks provide few nutrients and take a big toll on teeth and braces,” dentist Dr. James Orbon says.
The smallest bottle of the popular Gatorade Thirst Quencher sports drink, which is twelve ounces, contains 21 grams of sugar – around seven teaspoons of sugar. Sixteen ounces of the energy drink Monster has 160 milligrams of caffeine and 54 grams of sugar, which is 13.5 teaspoons of sugar and four and a half times the caffeine content of a can of Coca-Cola.
Dr. David Maddox a Buffalo Grove children’s dentist recommends parents and children read nutrition content and ingredient labels of any beverage they consume but says drinking only water is the best way to stay hydrated and protect oral health.
Learn More
Call the office at (847) 263-1801 or visit the website at http://www.affiliateddentalspecialists.com/ for more information about Affiliated Dental Specialists or to schedule an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist.
About Affiliated Dental Specialists
Affiliated Dental Specialists, Ltd., is a unique dental group practice, providing in the same location, orthodontic treatment for all ages and pediatric dentistry for infants, adolescents and teens, as well as the special needs population.
© 2011 Master Google and the Affiliated Dental Specialists.
