As your Local Redcliffe Dentists at John Street Dental know, the key to a healthy lifestyle is key – whether its a stroll along the beach, vigorous gym sessions or team sport.

Advertising companies often link Sports and Energy drinks to healthy activity, but how healthy are they really?

Sports drinks have little nutritional value – they provide fluid along with substances called electrolytes (including sodium, magnesium and potassium).  During exercise, our bodies use up fuel and water in order to keep moving and sports drinks are an easy way to replace sweat.

They contain about two thirds the amount of calories of regular soft drinks.  The ironic thing is, if you aren’t exercising hard enough, sports drinks can  actually lead to weight gain.

Sports drinks are also expensive, and research shows that certain foods can be just as effective as sports drinks.

Energy drinks are different in that they are a source of caffeine, other stimulants and often sugar.  Caffeine can exacerbate mood and anxiety disorders and disrupt sleep patterns.

Herbal additives can cause physical and or psychiatric side effects.  Some ingredients can react when consumed alongside prescription and non-prescribed medication.

So what does this all mean for our oral health?

Acidity levels in Sports drinks and energy drinks is extremely high.  Adolescents are being affected by the damage of this acidity more than any other age group.  The high acidity levels in the drinks erodes the tooth enamel (the glossy outer layer of the tooth).  Damage to tooth enamel is irreversible and without protection of enamel, the teeth become prone to cavities, become overly sensitive and result in decay.

Your Local Redcliffe Dentists at John Street Dental recommend that patients minimise their intake of sports and energy drinks.

Other ways to combat the attack of acidity is to chew sugar-free gum and rinse their mouths with water following consumption of the drinks.

Call John Street Dental on 07 3284 4281 today if you have any concerns with enamel erosion or other effects of Sports and Energy drink consumption

or Book Online