You may have heard about the negative effects of sports drinks, yet these sugar-laden beverages still seem to fly off the shelves at rapid rates. Whether you’re an adult athlete, or you’re supplying your child with post-soccer snacks, the best choice for healthy refueling will always be water. Here, the dental care experts from Lowitz & Meier in Cincinnati, OH, explain why.

One argument in defense of consuming sports drinks is their ability to replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates, which are lost during exercise. Yet, according to experts, most children and adults don’t need extra fuel beyond water unless they’ve worked out in high temperatures and for a period of more than 60 minutes. Because most sports don’t require constant movement for an hour or more, water will typically do the trick to restore any fluid lost during a game or practice.

Beyond simply not needing the extra carbs and electrolytes, most athletes don’t need the added calories sports drinks pack, either. Consumers often make the mistake of looking only at the serving size on a bottle’s nutrition facts. In many cases, the serving size only comprises half of the bottle’s contents (or less). As a result, there could be more calories in your sports drink than you might think.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the sugar content in most sports drink is cause for concern. One popular brand packs 56 grams of sugar in one bottle alone – more than double the amount recommended for children by the American Heart Association. Children who consume too much added sugar may have a higher risk of developing obesity, heart disease, and other health complications.

Of course, ingesting too much sugar also increases the risks of dental care problems – namely, cavities. While the gentle team from Lowitz & Meier takes care to perform fillings and all other restorative treatments as painlessly as possible, prevention is always the best form of care. By reaching for water instead of sugary sports drinks, you’ll reduce your risk of decay, and keep the rest of your body healthier as well.

To ensure your family is cavity-free, schedule a dental care appointment with Lowitz & Meier by calling (513) 521-8900 today. You can also visit the dentist office’s website and Facebook page to learn more about their family dentistry services.