新奇事件簿 功能性饮料损害牙齿健康

A new study has found that energy drinks and sports drinks cause irreversible damage to teeth, with energy drinks being twice as damaging as sports drinks. A report recently published in the journal "General Dentistry" found that the high acidity¹ levels in the drinks erode² tooth enamel³, the glossy⁴ outer layer that protects the tooth. Lead author Dr Poonam Jain said: "Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are 'better' for them than soda⁵. Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially⁶ bathing their teeth with acid." This has led to an increase in tooth decay and the need for fillings.

最新研究表明，能量饮料和运动饮料对牙齿造成了不可挽回的损害，而能量饮料的伤害度是运动饮料的两倍。日前，一则刊登在“大众医学”的报告发现，饮料中的高酸性物质会腐蚀牙釉质，它是保护牙齿的外膜。这项研究报告的第一作者普纳姆·杰恩博士称：“引用这种饮料的年轻人会认为这种饮料能够提升我们的运动性能，增加我们的能量，并认为它要好于苏打水。当他们得知这些饮料实际上就是将牙齿浸入到酸中时，他们感到非常震惊。”蛀牙，补牙的几率增加。

The report says 30 to 50 per cent of American teenagers regularly consume sports and energy drinks, with as many as 62 per cent drinking at least one sports drink a day. It also says brushing teeth after drinking one of the drinks does more harm than good as this will spread the acid over the tooth enamel. The doctors advised people to wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth. Dr Jennifer Bone of America's Academy of General Dentistry recommended people chew sugar-free chewing gum and rinse⁷ the mouth with water after drinking the drinks. She said: "Both tactics increase saliva⁸ flow, which naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal."

报告称有30-50%的美国青少年定期引用运动和能量饮料，每天至少饮用一瓶运动饮料的人数多达62%。该报道还称，饮用后刷牙会对牙齿造成更大的伤害，因为酸成分会遍布牙釉。医生建议人们要至少等待一个小时后再刷牙。“美国大众牙医学会”的詹尼弗·博内博士推荐人们咀嚼无糖口香糖，并在饮用之后漱口。她称：“这两种方法都会增加唾液的流动，帮助口腔中的酸恢复正常水平。”

1 acidity   

n.酸度，酸性

参考例句：

• This plant prefers alkaline soil,though it will readily tolerate some acidity.这种植物在酸性土壤中也能生存，但硷性土壤更加适宜。
• Gastric acidity would not prevent the organism from passing into the gut.胃的酸度不能防止细菌进入肠道。

2 erode   

v.侵蚀，腐蚀，使...减少、减弱或消失

参考例句：

• Once exposed,soil is quickly eroded by wind and rain.一旦暴露在外，土壤很快就会被风雨侵蚀。
• Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits.金融市场的竞争降低了利润。

3 enamel   

n.珐琅，搪瓷，瓷釉；(牙齿的)珐琅质

参考例句：

• I chipped the enamel on my front tooth when I fell over.我跌倒时门牙的珐琅质碰碎了。
• He collected coloured enamel bowls from Yugoslavia.他藏有来自南斯拉夫的彩色搪瓷碗。

4 glossy   

adj.平滑的；有光泽的

参考例句：

• I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。
• She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。

5 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

6 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

7 rinse   

v.用清水漂洗，用清水冲洗

参考例句：

• Give the cup a rinse.冲洗一下杯子。
• Don't just rinse the bottles. Wash them out carefully.别只涮涮瓶子，要仔细地洗洗里面。

8 saliva   

n.唾液，口水

参考例句：

• He wiped a dribble of saliva from his chin.他擦掉了下巴上的几滴口水。
• Saliva dribbled from the baby's mouth.唾液从婴儿的嘴里流了出来。