The risk of obesity and tooth decay is rising among children and younger teenagers due to regular intake of high-sugar sports drinks. Something that most people seem to forget is that plain water is sufficient.
Kids are playful by nature, and they’re bound to feel thirsty more often. The market today is bombarded with all types of drinks, including sodas, ice tea, juices and bottled water. Additionally, there are endless sports and energy drinks on the market promoted to kids.
The drinks come in the form of beverages, vitamin waters and caffeinated drinks containing all manner of ingredients. Promotional messages often include their purported benefits from boosting energy, resilience, alertness and athletic performance improvement. The big question is, are they safe for children?
Sports Drinks vs. Energy Drinks
There’s a difference between energy drinks and sports drinks. Sports drinks are rich in carbohydrates, minerals and electrolytes, and they are ingested to top up the water and electrolytes lost during exercise. And while sports drinks may be useful for kids who engage in prolonged and enduring exercises, they’re unnecessary in most cases.
Just like sports drinks, energy drinks contain high sugar levels. Additionally, they contain stimulants such as guarana that add to the high caffeine content of the drink. The caffeine causes nausea, vomiting and even diarrhea. As such, energy drinks are strictly not for consumption by kids.
Sports Drinks are Unnecessary in Most Cases
Although sports drinks contain electrolytes and minerals that replenish what’s lost through sweat, they are not particularly safe for use by children. They’re meant for those who engage in intense prolonged exercises. Even for kids participating in regular physical activities, plain water is enough.
As a parent, you don’t have to go through the trouble of buying sports drinks and energy drinks that could risk the health of your kid. High-nutrition healthy foods and plenty of water before and after sports activities are enough to provide nutrients and energy required by the body and to keep adequately hydrated.
High Levels of Calories in Sports Drinks Causes Tooth Decay
Sports drinks contain extra calories that kids don’t need. The additional calories are to blame for the increased obesity and tooth decay among kids. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that kids and young teens avoid all beverages containing caffeine as an ingredient, soda included. The pediatrics recommend that kids take lots of water before and after exercises.
Important: Although organic sports drinks such as the newly introduced Gatorade contains no artificial food dyes, it still has lots of sugars in it. As such, consider accompanying every meal with some warm milk and water instead for the proper dental health of your kid.
Committed to Your Kid’s Dental Health
Woodlands Pediatric Dentistry has a team of caring dentists and staff who serve the dental health needs of every patient. Our continuing child dental healthcare services range from checkups, cleanings and sealants to limited orthodontic treatments in a kid-friendly office for maximum comfort. For quality kids’ dental health services delivered with care, contact us at 281-292-4242.
