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SPECIAL REPORT: Dangers of Sports Drinks

Updated: Friday, February 8 2013, 01:57 PM EST
SPECIAL REPORT -- It € s being called the € cigarette € of this generation and it € s something you most likely have in your refrigerator right now...Soda.

Experts say America € s near addiction to pop is proving to be the biggest challenge in decades for the field of dentistry.

Bottom line: Our love affair with soda is taking a major toll on our teeth.

It € s a toll dentists Adam & Justin Hodges see all too often.

Dr. Justin Hodges says he can easily spot a patient with a soda habit.

€ Rampant decay is about the best way to place it. You know, you could take x-rays on these patients and you see it; lesions throughout the mouth, individually and we € re mostly talking between the teeth. €

It € s not just pop doing damage either. Energy drinks and sports drinks are also to blame.

Experts say the real problem is education.

We know we like the way these sugary drinks taste, but most of us rarely think about what we € re really drinking.

Dr. Adam Hodges says every soda, energy drink and sports drink is a combination of water, sugar and acid.
 
€ What happens is when the acid affects the teeth, the pH in the mouth drops. When the pH in the mouth drops, the ability for decay goes up. €

Decay means cavities.

Experts say a patient with a sugary drink habit could end up spending around $20,000 over the course of their life on dental work alone.

It € s a high price to pay for sipping on soda.

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Web Producer: Kellie HannaSPECIAL REPORT: Dangers of Sports Drinks