fbpx
Award-Winning Orthodontist in Pennsylvania
Patient Login 610-223-7777
Request An Appointment
Check-In
pa orthodontics team of spark orthodontics
things you should know before choosing a pennsylvania pa orthodontist
Finding a Pennsylvania(PA) orthodontist that is right for you or your child can be challenging. To help aid you in your search for the perfect orthodontist, we have put together the top 10 things you must know before choosing your orthodontist. We invite you to read it over and see if Spark Orthodontics will be a good fit for you!
get free report


Beware of Sports Drinks – They Can Damage Your Teeth

47_sports-drinksLollipops are a cavity on a stick and soda is pure sugar in a can. Candy and soda cause tooth decay. You’ve been taught this since grade school. This is not news, is it? Well, what about the fact that sports drinks ruin your teeth, too? Heard that one before?

Dr. Jason Hartman and the team at Bethlehem Orthodontics want to make sure you understand sports drinks can damage healthy teeth. Actually, “erode” is more like the term, especially around the brackets while wearing braces. These sort of drinks erode your teeth by “demineralization,” or reducing the minerals in the outer tooth enamel and also the dentin (“dentin” is a yellowish, calcified tissue underneath the tooth enamel). It doesn’t affect the enamel underneath the braces covered by the brackets.

Dental erosion is common. It happens when you lose tooth structure since acids dissolve enamel and dentin. When your teeth are exposed to an acidic substance like a sports drink, soda, or candy, dental erosion is not far behind.

Everyone knows about candy and soda. Sports drinks, on the other hand, are not thrown into this group of tooth killers. And energy drinks and some flavored waters can be just as harmful if they contain citrus flavoring.

Are sports drinks the only source of dental erosion? Actually, there are many factors that contribute to dental erosion. As we age, our teeth naturally lose some enamel over time. Dental hygiene is also a big factor; if you keep your teeth clean and healthy, the acids and plaque are kept to a minimum and your teeth will last longer!

Remineralization, as the word suggests, is the process of building minerals needed for strong teeth. A tooth has biofilm coating for protection. But when your teeth are exposed to acids, your biofilm decreases and your teeth lose their surface minerals.

You are messing with your long term dental health when you drink a sports drink like Gatorade. Here is an online link to the ingredients in Gatorade. Water is the number one ingredient with sugar #2 and citric acid #3. This acid invites growth of acidogenic bacteria and leads to erosion of teeth. In addition to that, citric acid forms complexes with calcium and lowers the effectiveness of the biofilm. That is why sports drinks have been reported to cause three times as much damage to enamel compared to soft drinks. Phosphoric acid, which is a component of soft drinks, is not as harmful as citric acid.

Prevention

The simplest way to prevent sports drinks from damaging your teeth is to avoid them and drink water. For most physical activity, water is sufficient to keep you hydrated and fresh. Also, most sports drinks now offer a low-calorie alternative that has little or no sugar. While they might taste different and lack the “sugar boost” of their counterparts, sports drinks without citric acid and sugar are better for your teeth.

If you do drink soda or sports drinks, no sipping. The number of contacts with the teeth makes the problem worse. DO NOT BRUSH your teeth afterwards; it makes the problem much worse. The enamel is weak from the acid. It takes at least a half hour of saliva contact on the teeth to allow some recovery and repair before the enamel can withstand the harshness of the toothbrush. It is counterintuitive, but brushing after drinking acidic drinks causes the problems to worsen.

There is also a definite relationship between dental erosion and the consumption of acidic (sweet) drinks, as well as obesity and diabetes in both children and adults. Remember: it always pays to be mindful of what you take in to your body! Whether a solid food, candy, soda, or sports drink, take the necessary steps to prevent unwanted conditions in any form that can damage your teeth.

There are many sports drinks and flavored waters sold today. We recommend you take the time to read the labels. Check for sugar content and citric acid in the ingredients. If they are one of the top ingredients on the label we suggest you avoid them. It can save your teeth and improve your dental health over a lifetime.

Sharing is caring!

 

Get The Smile You've Always Dreamed Of!

Spark Orthodontics can help you or your loved one achieve a smile that benefits dental health as much as it increases confidence. However, we want you to feel confident that your choice in an orthodontist in PA, is the right one. Follow the steps below and get that smile you have always dreamed of.

  1. Instantly Download his Report: Top 10 Things You Need to Know Before Choosing an Orthodontist in Pennsylvania.
  2. Please call 610.223.7777 to ask questions or set up your free Spark Smile Assessment!
  3. Contact one of our orthodontic offices in Reading, Camp Hill, Harrisburg, Bethlehem, Schnecksville, Schuylkill Haven, Lancaster, York, Danville, Hazleton or Freeland, PA, via our online form.
Top 10 Things You Should Know Before Choosing a Pennsylvania PA Orthodontist

Finding the orthodontist office in PA that is right for you can be a challenge. To help aid you in your search for the perfect orthodontist office for you, we have put together the top ten most important features to look for in an orthodontic office. We invite you to read it over and see if Spark Orthodontics will be a good fit for you!



Temple PA Orthodontists
Spark Affordable
Payment Options

At Spark Orthodontics, we accept virtually all insurances. We also help with paperwork submissions and filing. Additionally, we offer many financing options with no money down and flexible terms.

Learn More


Orthodontists In Temple PA
Accelerate Your Treatment By Up To 50% With Spark
Traditional orthodontic treatment can take up to two years to complete. At Spark Orthodontics, we offer a system that allows you to speed up treatment by up to 50%! Ask for more details during your no-obligation Spark Smile Assessment.

Learn More


Orthodontists Schuylkill Haven PA
Spark smile
assessment

Finding an orthodontist in PA you like, trust, and ultimately feel comfortable with can be challenging. For this reason, we invite you to take advantage of our Spark Smile Assessment at no charge and no obligation! The assessment includes a comprehensive initial exam, digital x-rays, consultation and analysis, a $249 value - yours for free!

Learn More
Award Winning Orthodontist In
Bethlehem, Reading, Schnecksville,
and Schuylkill Haven, PA & Beyond ...


  • lehigh valley magazine
  • berks county magazine
  • insical edge magazine
  • orthodontic products


readers choice best orthodontist


Proudly offering
invisalign logo invisalign teen logo wildsmiles logo acceledent logo
Proudly Supporting Our Pennsylvania Communities & Beyond ...
  • american cancer society
    autism speaks
    smiles change lives
    spark scholarship
    walk ms
  • lehigh valley steel hawks
    fast logo
    bethlehem catholic
    blue mountain school
    fleetwood school district
    kutztown school district
    liberty high school
  • muhlenberg school district
    parklands school district
    reading high school
    schylkill county school district
    wilson high school
  • berks gymnastics
    davinici science center
    hanover township
    kutztown dolphins swim team
    musikfest
  • northwestern youth althletic association
    orwigsburg little league
    pa dragons minor league football
    pottsville rotary tournament
     revolution cheer and tumbling center
    schuylkill women in crisis

does my child need braces
Will Your Child Need Braces?

As orthodontists, we get many questions from parents just like you, who are not sure if their child needs braces, if they should see an orthodontist, as well as many other questions. We invite you to download this free report to help answer these questions.

Berks County Location
Lehigh Valley Locations
Schuylkill County Location
Lancaster County Location
Reading, PA
Orthodontic Office

5318 Allentown Pike
Temple, PA 19560


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Bethlehem, PA
Orthodontic Office

3076 Schoenersville Rd.
Bethlehem, PA 18017


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Schnecksville, PA
Orthodontic Office
5021 Route 873
Schnecksville, PA 18078


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Pottsville, PA
Orthodontic Office

100 E. Union Street
Pottsville, PA 17901


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Lancaster, PA,
Orthodontic Office

886 Plaza Blvd
Lancaster, PA 17601


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
York County Location
Montour County Location
LUZERNE COUNTY LOCATIONS
York, PA,
Orthodontic Office

928 Carlisle Rd
York, PA 17404


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Danville, PA
Orthodontic Office

555 Mill St
Danville, PA 17821


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Hazleton, PA
Orthodontic Office

330 Laurel Mall Dr
Hazleton, PA 18202


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Cumberland County Location
Dauphin County Location
Camp Hill, PA
Orthodontic Office

133 S 32nd St
Camp Hill, PA 17011


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Harrisburg, PA
Orthodontic Office

4425 Jonestown Rd
Harrisburg, PA 17109


Phone : (610) 223-7777

Contact Us
Driving Directions
Our award-winning orthodontist in Reading, Bethlehem, Schnecksville, Pottsville, Lancaster, York, Danville, and Hazleton, PA, offers the most advanced braces for children, braces for teens and braces for adults. These types of braces include metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign. We can even help you get straight teeth up to 50% faster with AcceleDent!
Come experience Spark Orthodontics! You will see we offer effective and affordable braces in Reading, Camp Hill, Harrisburg, Bethlehem, Schnecksville, Pottsville, Lancaster, York, Danville, and Hazleton, PA.
Call (610) 223-7777 today for a free consultation for braces at one of our orthodontic offices in Reading, PA, Camp Hill, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Bethlehem, PA, Schnecksville, PA, Pottsville, PA, Lancaster, PA, York, PA, West Hazleton, PA, or Danville, PA.
2023 Spark Orthodontics. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Practices