Are Energy Drinks the WORST Beverage for Your Smile?
Here’s what you need to know to sip responsibly
Know an energy drink addict in your life? Or better yet, is that person YOU? If so, you may want to continue reading.
Red Bull gives you… caviiities?
It’s common knowledge that sugary-sweet beverages like juices, sport drinks and soda pops can cause serious damage to the teeth; leading to tooth decay and cavities at a rapid rate. But consider the fact that energy drinks not only contain a ton of sugar, but are also incredibly acidic. This means that yes, highly acidic energy drinks are even more harmful to a person’s smile than beverages that are merely high in sugar. In fact, a study that compared the teeth-damaging effects of certain sport drinks to energy drinks found energy drinks to be guilty of stripping a lot more enamel from the teeth. Yikes! (Our Burlington dentist isn’t surprised).
You may recall being warned about the harmful effects of acids on the teeth. Acids eat away at the enamel, making this precious surface layer thinner and thinner. The enamel is so important because it protects the layers beneath it – the dentin and the innermost layer, the pulp. Once the tooth enamel is worn enough to expose the dentin layer, it’s important to restore the tooth with a filling or a crown to prevent further damage that may eventually result in a root canal, or worse, losing the tooth.
If you must drink soda, juice, or a sport or energy drink, follow these guidelines.
You can still drink such beverages in moderation without causing significant harm to your teeth – but we really mean moderation. In addition to this, don’t sip these drinks over a long period of time, as this will increase the exposure time of harmful sugars & acids to your teeth. Lastly, if you drink or swish water or milk around in your mouth after consuming then you’ll be actually doing a lot to help reduce the level of damage… and if you’re going to brush your teeth afterwards, wait at least 30 minutes before doing so to give your enamel a chance to re-harden (or else you risk wearing your teeth with your toothbrush).
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