Want to Become a Patient? 866-938-5879
Current Patients
915-581-0500
Beverages designed to help replace nutrients lost during sports or exercise can help your body recover, but they can also cause irreversible damage to your teeth. At my El Paso dental office, we’re in the business of protecting smiles, so we want all of our patients to know the harmful effects sports drinks can have on their pearly whites.
Surprise! It’s Not the Sugar.
Usually when we talk about foods and drinks that cause decay, we’re dissing the sugar content. And while it’s still completely true that sugary foods and drinks lead to oral health problems like cavities, when we talk about sports drinks, the thing we’re more concerned with is acid.
Many popular sports drinks are very acidic, and that’s a problem. The acid in these beverages damages the protective enamel. Any damage done to the enamel is always a concern because once enamel is gone, it’s gone, and teeth are left exposed to even more problematic elements like bacteria, sugar, and even more acid. This causes the problem to become worse since bacteria feed on sugar and then produce even more acid, snowballing the damage into a neverending cycle.
The Damage
Besides increased risk for decay and cavities and the need for fillings, if problems are left untreated, more in depth treatment like root canals may be necessary. If acid is left to continually eat away at enamel, the tooth’s roots may become infected, and that can hurt. Treatment, however, isn’t as painful as you may think. Root canals actually relieve the pain, not cause it. More so, if a tooth has been treated several times, the need for a dental crown or onlay may be necessary to strengthen the tooth and prevent the need for repeated fillings.
It’s best to seek the opinion of a dentist in El Paso if you notice any symptoms of possible decay including:
Maintaining regular dental appointments at my dental office in El Paso is the best way to catch any damage to the enamel early to decrease the need for more advanced treatment. Dental cleanings and exams at least twice a year are typically recommended, so make sure you’re keeping up with your dental checkups. If it’s been longer than six months since your last visit, call to schedule an appointment today.
Accepting patients from El Paso, Las Cruces, and Cloudcroft.
He was excellent and pulled my wisdom tooth in less than 2 min. w/o chipping it. The service was good too.
Great dentist experience! While they do take my insurance, unfortunately, they are not part of my network, however, I liked them so much I will continue to see them.
We were very impressed with the helpful and friendly staff at this dental office.
I was very impressed and thankful with the service provided.
I’m 60 years old and I hated to go to the dentist, and put off going for a long time. But let me tell you Dr. Rizk is the best dentist I’ve ever had. I would of gone years ago. A no pain Dr. – thank you!
The winter months can feel long and gloomy. For many, shorter days and colder temperatures can lead to a dip in mood, commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Depression and anxiety can impact overall health, and so can the medications used to treat them. One side effect many people... Read More...
It seems like everything nowadays is smart. Smartphones, smartwatches, and now, even smart toothbrushes. From tracking how long you brush to making sure you’re using the right pressure, smart toothbrushes promise a high-tech approach to better oral hygiene. But does the added cost of these devices really offset how much... Read More...
