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Friggin' Cavities???

kimmydctkimmydct
in General Training Discussions

So I went to the dentist today... No big deal.  I am 40 years old and never had a cavity in my life.  Now I have FIVE suspicious ones!  WTF?  In convo, I mentioned that I'm a triathlete.  She asked if I have been eating more carbs & drinking more sports drinks.  Well, umm, yes.....  Apparently not great for the teeth.  (OK, so that isn't news to me, just never really thought about it)

Anyone else encounter this?  Anything to help prevent it, aside from ditching my Gu and Accelerade for  something better for my chompers, like apples?  (Not sure if Fuel Belt makes an apple holder attachment...)

Comments

  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    Oh Noo...I've wondered that myself with all the sport drink and gu...I had a bad cavity problem about 10 years ago but haven't had one since. I actually got my dentist to admit that certain people are prone to getting cavities at certain times REGARDLESS of what they eat, drink, or brush or floss. Shocking admission...So you could have just hit a certain age and your teeth were going to generate cavities no matter what you did...His opinion...Got a dentist appt in August, will see what happens...
    I'll be curious to see what any Dentist folks in the haus have to say..
  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    Cavities from sucking down sports drinks and gels are something I worry about. As a result I stick to Infinit on my long bike rides and supplement with water. After every drink of Infinit I grab a couple of drinks of water from my aero bottle, and also swish water around in mouth throughout the bike portion of the race.

    For my long runs I like Nuun because it is sugar free, and again allows me the ability to rinse my mouth after a gel.

    We only get one set of original teeth and gums in life.
  • JeremyBehlerJeremyBehler

     That's one of the reasons I use Hammer products...no simple sugars.  HEED uses Xylitol and Stevia and  as the sweetener.  Both are considered 'tooth friendly' and are commonly used by diabetics, etc as they have minimal effect on blood glucose.  I haven't had a cavity in over a decade, but had a few in my early teenage years.  

    I drink HEED not only for workouts, but also keep a container in the office and at home for when I don't feel like drinking water.  

     

     

  • Mark RobertsMark Roberts
    Dental cavities or caries is caused by bacteria in our mouths that metabolize simple sugars, producing acids which demineralize tooth structure. Long chain maltodextrans commonly found in some sports drinks are probably not a player, but simple 2 unit sugars like glucose and fructose are. The important thing is to minimize the duration and frequency that the sugars are in contact with the teeth. Chasing gels and bars with water can help as well as brushing after training sessions.
    Certainly products like NUNN and Heed are good recommendations because one is sugar free and xylitol in HEED is not metabolized by oral bacteria
    Older people may be more prone to caries if they have a medical condition that causes a decrease in salivary flow or take medications that cause dry mouth as a side effect. Saliva has a buffering effect on the acid produced by oral bacteria and is protective to a certain extent. Outside of that getting older in itself does not make you more suseptible to cavities.
    Any other recent changes in your diet? Do you sip on sodas, coke, etc during the day? Even diet soft drinks while not containing sugar are very acidic and frequent sipping during the day can initiate demineralization of the enamel which is the first step in a developing cavity.


  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Maybe I'm not susceptible to cavities, but I've been sucking down Gatorade since it first came on the market, plus Gels, plus, sodas, plus about everything else that's bad for you. I don't even recall the last cavity I've had...maybe back in my 20s. I did use Nuun for awhile, but switched to Camelback Elixer tabs because they taste better.
  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    Paul, it sounds like you picked some good parents. My father never had a cavity in his life, and neither has my wife or son. I have had a few, but it has been many years.

    Meanwhile I live in quiet paranoia over loosing my teeth; brushing several times a day, and each and every day I floss, and use a number of other implements to keep my teeth and gums healthy.

    I guess if I am going to obsess over something, it might as well be my teeth.
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