“The popular energy drinks sipped by many athletes to increase stamina contain levels of acid that can cause tooth erosion, hypersensitivity, and staining, according to the findings of New York University dental researchers.”Wait, they increase your stamina? Oh right... in sports. Good, because for a moment there I was going to start drinking sports drinks before bed on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and every 2nd Saturday. That’s the new spring schedule. (Hey, when you have 2 kids you schedule it or you take cold showers.)
The article goes on to say:
“The beverages also can cause excessive tooth wear and may damage underlying bone-like material, causing teeth to soften and weaken, the researchers say.”Wow. That’s some heavy science talk right there. The bone-like material? It doesn’t have an actual name?
“The drinks may also possibly trigger conditions leading to severe tooth damage and loss.”May also possibly? Talk about an all-time authoritative assertion. It may possibly be the least conviction I’ve read in a medical article. (Full disclosure: I read very few medical articles.) Also notice that it doesn’t say that it may possibly lead to tooth damage. No, it says that it may possibly trigger conditions and that those conditions can lead to tooth damage and loss. STOP THE PRESSES! Sports drinks may possibly lead to a condition that can, in some instances, lead to tooth damage? Why hasn’t the FDA banned these toxic tonics?
Craig Stevens of the American Beverage Association tries to explain and defend sports drinks with the following comments regarding the study:
“The testing procedures they used are outside the realm of what happens in real life. Beverages pass right through the mouth, and these beverages have a purpose, and are proven to enhance physical performance. To use them like this is simply providing unhelpful information to consumers.”Yeah right, Craig. Next you’re going to tell me that the researchers unfairly cut the teeth in half and submerged them in the sports drinks for unrealistic periods of time? Oh. Really? That’s exactly what they did?
“In the study, cows’ teeth were cut in half. Half of the specimens were immersed in a sports drink, the other half in water, and then the halves were compared.”Well I for one am shocked to learn that cutting your teeth in half and submerging them in an artificially colored, sugary drink could stain and erode them, but this should serve as a warning to those of you who follow this practice. Half-Fast is once again taking the lead to bring you critical new information in the field of running. Now that’s information that would be worth paying for, right? Hey, wait. Why are you leaving?