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CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- At this Cape Coral baseball game, there may be only one thing more popular than the players on the field.

“Gatorade,” yells one young player.

But in this case, what happens at the field, doesn't stay at the field. Sports drinks and juices have taken over many refrigerators in the U.S., which isn't surprising. The ads are targeting your pocketbook, but the ingredients, going after something far worse.

Your teeth! Dr Anissa Ahmadi at Barkley Circle Pediatric Dentistry says they see it more now than ever...

“With these types of drinks, if you consume them frequently, you’re going to end up having cavities, multiple cavities and eventually tooth loss,” says Dr. Ahmadi.

While many of us only look for sugar on the label, Dr Ahmadi says it's the hidden acids that are really destroying our teeth. Ironically, as we show up, a three year old is under sedation, facing four tooth extractions...

“This dark area here, this is all decay,” says Dr. Ahmadi pointing to the black lines through the child’s teeth on an x-ray.

Still, we're so quick to hand our toddlers a juice cup, our young athletes the sports drink....but why?

 "Actually it's probably an afterthought,” says Jackie Ohime, “I probably thought soda was worse.”

This Cape Coral mom hit it on the head, with shelves full of options, we are actually being fooled by advertising

“There’s too much sugar in soda pop but with Gatorade there’s some sugar, but its not as much, it's way healthier,” says Anthony Leto, a Cape baseball player.

“Theres this misconception that soda is like, the worst drink ever,” says Dr. Ahmadi, but the energy drinks and sports drinks have just as much citric acid or more than the carbonic acid of the sodas.

Dr. Ahmadi says the real danger to your teeth occurs when you sip on these drinks slowly, like during a game or in a bottle at bedtime

“It's not like a milk or an orange juice where you drink it with a meal and your done,” says Dr. Ahmadi, “usually they're sipping on them throughout the day and that’s where the damage occurs.”

But some parents say, the potential for damage to your teeth at all, is enough to change their minds

“I probably would not let them drink it anymore,” says Jackie Ohime, “probably more water.”

Dr. Ahmadi stresses that these drinks CAN provide some hydration and nutrients, but it’s how you drink them. She says to drink them when thirsty, but not sip on them for an extended period of time. Dr. Ahmadi also suggest waiting an hour or more after drinking a sports drink or juice to brush your teeth, saying that only brushes the acids further into the enamel. Also, Dr. Ahmadi says, the best way to avoid damage to the teeth, is to rinse your mouth with water after drinking these drinks.

Emily Dishnow
edishnow@fox4now.com
FOX 4 IN YOUR CORNER