Do you allow your children to enjoy sports drinks? Were you aware that they could pose a “serious” risk to their health?
The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) have released a study that proves that if children regularly consume sports drinks it will have a detrimental and harmful effect on both their physical and oral health.
The news comes on the back of research carried out by Cardiff University School of Dentistry who found that almost 70% of 12 to 14 year-olds are unnecessarily consuming dangerously high levels of sugar in drinks.
In the light of this research, Ewan Bramley Dental Care, a Newcastle dentist, believes there is a lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the harmful and dangerous effects of certain drinks and food products and our children’s oral health could well be suffering as a result.
Dentist Ewan Bramley believes more should be done to let people know about hidden dangers sugar in sports drinks have so parents can make better choices and choose healthy alternatives such as milk or water.
He said: “The oral health of children is at risk with the unnecessary consumption of sports drinks. To hear that 70% of 12 to 14 year-olds in a survey is worrying. If they consume drinks that have zero nutritional value and contain so much sugar it won’t end well.
“The public, it seems, are unaware of the dangers that lie within sports drinks and people don’t know what’s safe to drink and what isn’t.
“It has become normal for children and people to drink them and we firmly believe children shouldn’t be anywhere near sports drinks. They’re for sports people to enhance performance, not for children. There’s research out there that shows even sporting professionals are having problems with tooth decay never mind our youth.”
According to the research, more than 30,000 children are admitted to hospitals each year, and under general aesthetic, they have their teeth removed. One of the biggest causes of this is the high levels of sugar found in the food and drinks that some parents think are perfectly safe.
Sugar and acids found in sports drinks are directly linked to tooth decay as occurs when sugar reacts with the bacteria present in plaque. The acid that forms can destroy tooth enamel and over time it can wear down to cause cavities or holes. This can lead to complete removal of teeth and fillings.
