Good oralhealth is crucial for successful performance in sports and for the overall well
being of the child. Children who participate in strenuous sports require the
highest levels of nutrition to meet the energy demands of their activities.
Dental erosion is defined as the irreversible loss of dental hard tissues
caused by a chemical process not involving bacteria. Over the last two
decades, tooth erosion has become a significant clinical problem. Dental
erosion in children involved in Sports is a growing concern due to the frequent
ingestion of sports drinks. Sports drinks are acidic drinks, like fruit
juices and carbonated drinks, most of which have pH below 5.5, the critical pH
for enamel demineralization to occur. Additionally, they also have free
sugars thus having potential to cause dental caries also. They are used
primarily by athletes to provide carbohydrates, electrolytes and for fluid
replacement. Sports drinks are becoming increasingly popular in children and
adolescents to quench their thirst and provide extra energy to improve their
performance in sports. Increased consumption of sports drinks, aerated soft
drinks and other Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) puts children at increased
risk of dental erosion. The frequent intake of sports drinks and carbonated
mineral water has been implicated in tooth erosion. Unusual drinking habits
such as swishing or holding acidic drinks in the mouth for prolonged periods
have also been linked to dental erosion. Apart from oral health risks,
consumption of these acidic beverages has been linked to obesity, diabetes,
cardiac problems and gout as well.
Uninhibited advertising, promotion and unawareness of these
Acidic drinks pose a big public health hazard. The marketing of these drinks
has become a lucrative money minting industry. Easy availability of food
vending machines and fast food restaurants further catalyze the uninterrupted
intake of these harmful beverages. Children and adolescents engaged in
organized sports are especially vulnerable to external influences due to lack
of adequate knowledge.
There is limited literature on knowledge and consumption habits
of acidic drinks in children involved in organized sports, especially in India.
Few studies have examined the effect of consumption pattern (frequency, method
and timing of consumption) of these drinks on dental erosion. In light of the
lacunae in literature, the objectives of the present study were to (i) to
assess the knowledge regarding sports drinks in children involved in organized
sports; (ii) to evaluate the consumption habits of various acidic beverages and
(iii) to investigate the relationship between consumption patterns of acidic
drinks and dental erosion.
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