My buddy, Nick, and I are having a great time reading your informative answers during Stanford University's spring break. My question: sports drinks contain a lot of sugar. During a long distance race, I can't stop to brush. Should I be concerned that the sugar stays on my teeth? Would it help to rinse with water?

Dear Patty,

Most sports drinks do contain a lot of sticky sugars for quick bursts of energy and/or carbohydrates for sustained energy. Both substances can increase the incidence of caries if they remain on your teeth. Many of these drinks are also acidic which can be harmful to the tooth enamel.

One study published by Dr. Alex Milosevic in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 1997, Volume 31, pages 28-30, may be particularly interesting to you. Dr. Milosevic recommends ingesting sports drinks from a straw. This reduces the amount of liquid that comes into contact with the tooth surfaces. He also suggests drinking cold beverages to reduce the detrimental effects of the acid. I understand that some sports drinks are formulated for maximum gastric uptake at warmer temperatures. This is supposed to increase your racing performance. However, unless one is an elite or world class endurance athlete, I doubt that the temperature of their sports drink will drastically change their finishing times.

Many sports drinks are also too concentrated for proper hydration. Therefore, you could probably dilute your drink. It may not taste as good, but you will expose your teeth to less sugar and acid while still maintaining safe levels of hydration during the race. Rinsing with water, brushing your teeth soon after the race, and regular dental examinations with teeth cleanings will also help prevent cavities. If you remain conscientious about your oral hygiene, you will always come out ahead in the long run!