The Impact of Sugary Drinks on Heart Health

Published in the lastest Academy of General Dentistry journal:

“Researchers at Havard University found that men who consume one 12-ounce, sugar-sweetened drink every day have a 20 percent increased risk of heart attack than those who do not drink these sugar-laden treats.  Further, this risk increases to 42 and 69 percent with two and three sugary drinks per day, respectively.”  (AGD May 2012, Vol. 40, No. 5, p12)

Sports Drinks

I have found myself partaking in many more sporting activities as the weather has warmed up.  Because of this, I have also found myself consuming a higher amount of Sports Drinks to quench my thirst.

 While sports drinks can replenish some fluids and minerals to the body, they should be consumed with caution.  Most sports drinks contain heavy sugar content and are also quite acidic (pH 3-4), which may lead to dental erosion and demineralization.  

Frequent drinking during exercise is the best protection against net fluid loss. But the Stephan Curve also shows that frequent drinking (other than water) prolongs the period of time that the pH within the mouth remains below the critical value of 5.5. pH values fluctuate within the mouth throughout the day.  When the value drops below 5.5, demineralization occurs.  The longer it remains below 5.5, the greater the amount of demineralization.  Also, this risk can be compounded even more if saliva production is decreased, like it typically is during heavy physical activity and dehydration.

Are sports drinks bad?  Not necessarily, but steps should be taken to minimize their potential harm:

• Hydrate early.  Drink plenty of water prior to exercising in order to minimize dehydration
• Drink mostly water.  Do not reach for a sports drink every time you need to grab a couple sips to quench your thirst.  Every time you sip on a sports drink, the pH slips back below the crucial level.
• Swish with some water after drinking a swig of sports drink.  This will at least rinse some of the sugar away and dilute the acid.
•  If you are going to drink a sports drink, then drink it down in over a small period of time.  Drinking 10 20oz sports drinks over the course of a couple minutes is much less harmful to your teeth than drinking a small cup of one over the course of an hour.  How this makes sense.

Secondhand Smoke and Periodontal Disease

Studies have long-since proved a strong correlation between smoking and gum disease.  However, researchers at the University of North Carolina have concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke for a few hours a day “can double a person's risk of severe periodontal disease.”  Periodontal disease is not the only ill-effect of smoking.  It is only a matter of time before studies prove a correlation between secondhand smoke and the rest of the dangers that come along with smoking.

Are you exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis?  Are you exposing others to secondhand smoke regularly?

It is no secret that smoking has some devastating effects on the entire body.  From a dental perspective, here are some problems tobacco causes on just the mouth alone:

Discoloration of teeth

Bad breath

Gum recession

Bone loss

Tooth loss

Loss of taste

Sores in the mouth

Wrinkling around the mouth

ORAL CANCER

What's In Toothpaste?

Toothpastes can be made up of different “ingredients”; however the two main must-have ingredients are:

1. Fluoride
2. Abrasives

Fluoride is crucial because it provides the restoring capability to toothpaste. Fluoride incorporates itself into the teeth’s enamel. This strengthens the teeth, making them more resistant to decay. Also, the fluoride helps restore areas of demineralized enamel in early stage cavities.

The abrasives are what actually clean the teeth. Tooth plaque is sticky and must be physically removed. This is what the abrasives do. They provide “grit” so plaque can be scrubbed away. Abrasives are usually in the form of calcium carbonates, calcium phosphates, or another similar compound.

Other toothpaste ingredients can include:

Peroxides (some whitening toothpastes contain this)

Potassium Nitrate (contained in sensitivity toothpastes)

Surfactants (creates the foaming action to help spread the paste around)

Flavoring agents

Sweeteners (such as xylitol)

Preservatives

The Mouth to Body Connection

Microscopic view of bacteria on used floss

Photo Credit: Steve Gshmeissner/Sciene Photo Library

Plain and simple....if you don't floss, this is what is happening:

Bacteria forms colonies in the mouth.

The body begins a defensive inflammatory response.

Periodontal disease develops. (Gingivitis is periodontal disease. Do your gums bleed?)

This is chronic condition of infection and inflammation in the mouth.

This causes increased bacterial contamination and inflammation in other areas of the body.

There is now an increased risk of many systemic diseases.
(Examples: atherosclerosis, diabetic complications, respiratory disease, pregnancy complications,...and many more)

Flossing is not just about helping your teeth out. It affects your whole body and life.

How Much Sugar Is in a Coke?

1 20 oz bottle of Coca-Cola has 65g of sugar.

1 teaspoon = 4.2 g of sugar


Put a little over 15 spoonfuls of sugar in a glass. That's how much sugar is in a Coke.

For those wondering, a 12 oz can of Coke contains 39g sugar (a little over 9 spoonfuls of sugar)

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps.....Nothing

It is no secret that a high-sugar diet can lead to some devastating results for your teeth. Did you also know that sugar could negatively affect more than just your teeth? Here are just a few examples:

Sugar suppresses your immune system. Do you get sick often?

Sugar contributes to obesity.

Sugar contributes to diabetes. Diabetes prevalence is growing at an alarming rate.

Sugar contributes to cardiovascular disease.

Sugar has been linked to many forms of cancer.

Sugar intake can contribute to psychological disorders.

Sugar can decrease learning capacity.

Sugar disrupts normal bowel function.

Sugar has been linked to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

This is by no means a complete list. More and more studies are coming to term and revealing alarming effects of sugar. The scary thing is that we are consuming more of it than we realize. Sugar is not just in sodas, cookies, and cakes. My wife and I recently partook in a diet in which no sugar was allowed. I was shocked to learn of all the normal and even “healthy” foods that I was not able to eat because of their sugar content.

The bottom line is that most of us cannot (and don’t want to) avoid sugar all together. We can, however, take a more proactive role in our health. Examine your diet. Educate yourself about what you are eating. Most likely, you will make some “eye-opening” discoveries, just like I did. Does that list above raise any flags in your mind? Are there some easy changes you can make?