WASHINGTON -- While sipping on sports drinks all day may provide an energy boost, this popular practice is also exposing people to levels of acid that can cause tooth erosion and hypersensitivity, New York University dental researchers have found. Jerod Mayo Jersey. In a recent study, the researchers found that prolonged consumption of sports drinks may be linked to a condition known as erosive tooth wear, in which acids eat away the tooths smooth hard enamel coating and trickle into the bonelike material underneath, causing the tooth to soften and weaken. The condition affects one in 15 Americans and can result in severe tooth damage and even tooth loss if left untreated. This is the first time that the citric acid in sports drinks has been linked to erosive tooth wear, said Mark Wolff, professor and chairman of the Department of Cariology & Comprehensive Care at New York University College of Dentistry, who led the study. The findings were presented on Friday at the annual meeting of the International Association for Dental Research in Miami. Wolffs research team cut in half cow teeth, which were used for the study because of their close resemblance to human teeth. They immersed one half of the specimens in a sports drink, the other half in water, then compared the two halves and discovered that the one exposed to the sports drink displayed a significant amount of erosion and softening. Five teeth were immersed in each drink for 75 to 90 minutes to simulate the effects of sipping on sports drinks over the course of the day, Wolff said. The researchers evaluated the effects of a range of top-selling sports drinks on the cow teeth. According to Wolff, brushing teeth immediately after consuming a sports drink can compound the problem of tooth erosion, because softened enamel is very susceptible to the abrasive properties of toothpaste. To prevent tooth erosion, consume sports drinks in moderation, and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth, to allow softened enamel to re-harden, Wolff advised. If you frequently consume sports drinks, ask your dentist if you should use an acid-neutralizing remineralizing toothpaste to help re-harden soft enamel. Cheap Antrel Rolle Jersey. You can see the game on TSN2 with coverage beginning at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt. Both teams enter this evenings tilt with identical 1-6 marks. The Raptors have lost five in a row since their only win of the season on Oct. Super Bowl Jersey.C. - Brad Keselowskis long courtship with Penske Racing ended Tuesday when he finally took an offer to move to the Sprint Cup Series. Patriots Rob Gronkowski Jersey. The British driver followed up his pole in Australia last weekend with another strong performance around the Sepang circuit Saturday, setting a best time of one minute 35.181 seconds -- more than half a second ahead of last years pole time. 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Bradley gathered the puck in the right corner and skated in to put a backhander between Ondrej Pavelecs legs with 10:14 remaining. It was Bradleys ninth goal of the season and first since Jan. 19. In a possible preview of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, the Capitals put aside of week of spotty play and moved closer to clinching the Presidents Trophy for best overall record. Nicklas Backstrom scored his 30th goal, Alex Ovechkin had an assist for his 102nd point, and Semyon Varlamov improved his bid to be the No. 1 goalie for the postseason by making 19 saves. The win was No. 50 for the Capitals, tying the club record. Washington has also had Atlantas number this season, winning all five meetings by a combined score of 24-11. Tim Stapleton scored for Atlanta. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dustin Brown had three goals and an assist, and Los Angeles Kings roared to an early five-goal lead while inching closer to their first playoff berth since 2002. Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov and Jarret Stoll each had a goal and an assist, and Justin Williams and Michal Handzus also scored for the Kings, who have won two straight after a four-game winless streak endangered their playoff position. Los Angeles is seventh place in the Western Conference with 94 points, seven ahead of ninth-place Calgary with five games to play. Kyle Wellwood scored twice for Vancouver, Ryan Kesler added a goal, and NHL scoring leader Henrik Sedin had an assist for his 105th point, keeping him three points ahead of Washingtons Alex Ovechkin. Roberto Luongo allowed all eight goals for Vancouver, which have clinched a playoff berth with one point. OTTAWA (AP) - Alex Kovalev and Jason Spezza scored in a shootout to cap Ottawas dramatic victory after the Senators clinched a playoff spot in regulation. Erik Karlsson scored his second goal of the game with 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation to draw the Senators even at 3. 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