Teeth Health & Cycling gels/drinks-

[crazycanuck]

Hey,

I was at my friendly dental hygenist this morning and have been pondering something she said.

What can i use instead of energy powders like High5 etc? I understand the long term damage it does to your teeth but i'm addicted..

Any thoughts? My lovely healthy teeth will thank you

[alpinerabbit]

Same ideas. You have sugar in your mouth all day and less saliva to boot.
Apparently RunningMommy got caries on the sides of her teeth from the sports drinks, right?

I think gels and water is preferable. Or a bottle of high conc goop and a bottle of water on the side. Take a sip of water everytime you've ingested sugar. There are even 2-chamber aero bottles that would do that.

Plus I don't drink enough when it's sports drink because I get a icky sticky mouth.

[tulip]

I don't use energy powders or gels, besides an occassional Gu, but I do use Gatorade. I cut it with water by more than half. Can you cut the energy powders with more water? Or have one water bottle of water and one with the energy drink?

[Thorn]

Yep had that chastisement from the dentist on my last visit.

We've switched to a salt in the water (no real sugars or fake sugars) to make sure we have the electrolytes, but I cannot remember the brand. Then we use Clif Shot Blocks in a bento-box to keep the sugar levels up, but swish the mouth out after the block. I have to admit that I have less "icky sticky mouth" (love that term, AR).

I'll let you know in 2 weeks if my dentist is happier.

[KnottedYet]

I'm pretty obsessive about brushing and flossing, after a misspent youth in which I got a cavity in EVERY SINGLE TOOTH IN MY HEAD. I also have several broken teeth and crowns.

My hygienist has no issues with my sports drinks or bloks. CC, I guess if you really must have the sugary drinks on the bike, treat every bike ride like a delicious sweet dessert and clean your teeth well after? (Mine suggested I try sugar free gum for the convenience factor, but I am not fond of gum. Maybe try that?)

[maillotpois]

at this point, most of my teeth in the back are crowns. That seems to have prevented any issues.

[mimitabby]

I usually have a glass of NUUN at my lunch stop on a longer ride. I drink water when i'm going down the road MOST the time. I have multiple cavities in most of my teeth, knott (i have some teeth in the front without cavities!)
but after watching my own sons I'd say it was because we didn' have fluoridated water in NJ.

[ny biker]

I haven't had any dental problems from gatorade or gu. Maybe because I only consume them 1-2 days a week. Also I alternate bottles of water with bottles of gatorade because after a while I get sick of the gatorade.

FWIW, you shouldn't dilute sports drinks like gatorade because they're designed to be drunk at full strength. Adding water detracts from the benefits.

[velogirl]

have you ever noticed how yellow the teeth of pro racers are? I'm positive it's because of the sugars we put into our mouth when we ride. of course, sports nutrition products work best for me (and many others). I like to drink and gel my calories.

I chew gum when I ride. It prevents the build-up of sugars and bacteria. I've asked my dentist about this in the past and she says the gum is what's kept me from having yellow teeth after 10 years of riding.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks & I will start using only half a drink sachet in my water bottles.

What's this NUUN stuff you guys are on about? I've not seen it down this way.

I clean my teeth super duper well and perhaps will be even kinder to them after a ride

I've only ever had 3 cavities in my lifetime & all were when i was a young un.

[Running Mommy]

Yep, I started getting cavities on the sides of my teeth.
Didn't read through all the replies, but I do believe there have been studies.
My dentist says that gatorade is the devil.
Lot's of sugar which makes for a very acidic mix. Drink it and then breath heavy through your mouth- as when running, cycling etc and it dries on your teeth- and eats into them..

edit to add.... Brush your teeth after workouts where you have injested sports drinks!

[Thorn]

NUUN: http://www.nuun.com/

ELETE: http://www.eletewater.com/

I couldn't handle the taste of NUUN. Although the "sugar" is sorbitol--the substance in the gums your dentist wants you to chew.

Somewhere else on the board someone talked about Elete. It has no flavoring--it takes awful when you're not exercising, but once you start working out, you don't notice the saltiness.