Oh Sugar!

Oh Sugar!

7 August 2018

Hi there, my name is Jo, I’m one of the Dental Hygienists at The Briars.

This is my first ever blog, I thought to myself… “Why let Amy have all the fun?!”

I spend a lot of my time cycling, walking or running and I have spent a large part of my life competing in distance or endurance events from triathlon, to rowing and am currently training for my first ever 100km walk!  I say first, but it is likely to be the only 100km event I take on both for my sanity, and for that of my husband and children!

While training for these events, it is vital to keep hydrated and to replace minerals lost in sweat during those long sessions.  It got me to thinking about the possible dental effects of sports drinks, because the continued use of these over a long period can cause devastating damage to the teeth in two ways: decay and erosion.

Decay is caused by acids produced when sugar and plaque are combined.  The risk is increased the more frequently sugar is consumed so in an ideal world we would only have water and sugar free snacks between meals. Erosion is the loss of dental tooth tissue due to acidic foods and drinks being consumed frequently over a prolonged period of time. So again, it is best not to consume acidic or fizzy drinks between meals. Erosion is also a problem for patients who suffer from bulimia or acid reflux, and those who taste wine.

So what advice can I give to all those budding endurance event participants!?

• A cube of cheese can return the acidity levels to normal much quicker after an acid attack
• Try to only use the sports drinks if you are training for longer than an hour and a half, as under this time water is sufficient
• Maintain a healthy mouth as in order for decay to occur there must also be plaque so brushing twice a day and using floss every day will help to maintain a healthier mouth
• Try to avoid the sticky sugary energy bars and raisins as they stick to the teeth for longer and are likely to increase the risk of decay
• Spit don’t rinse after brushing – leaving residual toothpaste in the mouth keeps the teeth better protected for longer
• Use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash after a training session where you have consumed sugary drinks or snacks
• Never brush directly after having acidic food or drink as this just brushes the acid around the teeth
• Have a bottle of water as well as an energy drink, and have a mouthful of water after using the energy drink to ‘wash’ it away

So, enjoy these lovely warm days, and make sure you think about the sensible way to keep hydrated to look after those lovely smiles!

Jo