If you’re addicted to sugary sports drinks this might make you think twice. University College London researchers spoke to over 350 Olympic and professional athletes from 11 Great Britain teams about their dental habits and reviewed their dental records. They found nearly half had untreated tooth decay, and the large majority showed early signs of gum inflammation. This was despite the fact that almost 100 percent reported brushing their teeth twice a day (only about 75 percent of the general population says the same.) The scientists blame the high consumption of sugary things like chocolate bars, sports drinks and flavored gels, which athletes use daily for energy and recovery. Also, exercise can dry out the mouth, and lack of saliva has been linked with tooth decay, because it’s needed to shift plaque on teeth.
Olympians have high rates of gum disease and tooth decay 'because they consume so many sugar-laden sports drinks' https://t.co/PZheAPniGu
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) August 23, 2019
