Sports supplement drinks and dental health in competitive swimmers and cyclists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess dental status and sports supplement uptake in swimmers and cyclists. To determine chemico-physical properties of the most popular sports drinks.


METHODS
Descriptive, prevalence study of tooth wear and caries experience. Questionnaire analysis of sports drinks usage.


METHODS
Two public swimming pools in Liverpool and three cycle clubs in North West England.


METHODS
A convenience sample of swimmers and cyclists was examined for caries and tooth wear. A questionnaire ascertained which sports drinks were consumed and their pattern of consumption. pH and titratable acidity, concentrations of calcium, phosphate and fluoride, and viscosity were analysed. Salivary flow rate in response to these drinks and water was also determined.


RESULTS
25 swimmers and 20 cyclists participated. Caries experience and tooth wear into dentine (excluding incisally exposed dentine) was significantly more frequent among cyclists (P < 0.05). Cyclists had significantly more upper palatal wear (P < 0.001). Pattern of sport drink consumption between the two groups was significantly different (P < 0.001). pH range of the most popular sport drinks was 2.4-4.5. Salivary flow rate after a 1-minute rinse was significantly lower (P < 0.05) with one drink (0.47 ml/min) and water (0.41 ml/min) compared with the other drinks.


CONCLUSIONS
An association between caries or erosive tooth wear and sport drink consumption was not found. However, the erosive potential of sport drinks is real and must be borne in mind as an aetiological factor for erosion in young people.
Milosevic
A
A
Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool.
Kelly
M J
MJ
McLean
A N
AN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
D019422:Dietary Sucrose