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Children 10–18 years

Athletes protect your winning smile

Athletes need to protect their smile. While high carbohydrate sports drinks and snacks may provide the energy needed to improve performance, without care, these foods can also be hazardous to dental health.

Research has shown that any food or drink that contains fermentable carbohydrates (sugar and starches) can be used by plaque bacteria to produce acid that can dissolve or demineralize tooth enamel. This process can leave the softer, underlying tooth material (dentine) vulnerable to abrasion.

An increase in tooth erosion is being linked to an increase in the consumption of dietary acidic intake through soft drinks, fruit juices, high energy “new age” and sports drinks.

Factors contributing to tooth erosion in athletes:

  • Tooth enamel and dentine are dissolved by acid (pH less than 5.5). Sports and energy drinks have a pH of 2.4-4.5; commercial fruit juice 3.4-3.6 and carbonated waters and soft drinks 2.5-3.6.
  • Frequent sipping of sports drinks or soft drinks increases the exposure of teeth to erosion.
  • Sports drinks have a high sugar content 4-8 percent carbohydrate (soft drinks 10-12%, high energy drinks such as V and Red Bull 11%).These sugars are in a “sticky form” that can adhere to teeth, feeding acid forming oral bacteria.

Note: Any drink with a concentration of sugar over 8% can impair gastric emptying during exercise, slowing the delivery of energy to the working muscle and performance.

  • Saliva acts as a buffer against plaque acids and contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, which assist the re-mineralization of tooth enamel.  Dehydration can be a major problem for athletes particularly if competing on hot days (with high sweat losses) or during extreme climatic conditions such as playing into wind. As the mouth dries the tooth surface becomes more susceptible to damage.

Why does it matter?

  • Dental care does not come cheap. A recent article entitled “it’s the bill not the drill” in the Sunday Times pointed out that for many young people the cost of dental care, after the free service runs out (at the age of 18 years), is proving too costly for many people to keep up with regular oral checks.
  • Tooth erosion causing pain can impact on training time reducing performance.
  • Diabetic athletes should be particularly careful of oral hygiene as infections can quickly develop and affect blood sugar control.
  • New evidence is linking poor oral health to cardiovascular disease with research finding that the burden of bacteria that build up around oral infections can lead to a narrowing of the carotid artery and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Tips that may help

  • Using a straw can reduce tooth exposure to acid forming bacteria.
  • Avoid using a sports drink as a mouth wash. Rather swallow these drinks immediately if you can.
  • Avoid sharing drink bottles as harmful oral bacteria can be passed on to others.
  • Rinse mouth guards with water
  • Drink plenty of water as this will help to clear the acid drinks and aid salivary flow.
  • Delay brushing teeth for up to 30 minutes  after taking fruit juice or sports drinks as brushing in the acid has an abrasive action on tooth enamel.
  • Including a low-fat milk drink post exercise will not only boost recovery but also it contains minimal fermentable sugars with added calcium to strengthen bones and teeth. See our milkshake recipes of more ideas.

If you would like more information on dental health then talk to your dentist or GP and if oral surgery or braces are limiting your energy intake then do contact us for some practical food tips.

About the author View all

Lea Stening

Lea is one of New Zealand’s leading paediatric dietitians and also specialises in Sports Nutrition. She has specialised in Paediatric Nutrition for 31 years and in 1985 was the first paediatric dietitian to enter private practice in New Zealand. Lea helps families through her private consultations, public lectures, newspaper and magazine articles as well as television and radio interviews. Read more »

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