The world just keeps getting faster and faster, leaving people little time for restful sleep. When everyone works and plays from dawn until dusk, it’s not surprising that energy drinks have become the go-to drink for the younger (and even not-so-younger) generation. Unfortunately, the energy boost comes at a price for your teeth and it might not be one worth paying.
The Boost of Energy Drinks
Energy drinks have been on the market for several years. They started off small, but now you can get massive cans of these drinks to keep you zipping throughout the day. The boost comes from many sources from caffeine and sugar to B12 vitamins and what can only be best described as… other.
Health professionals have decried the negative impact these drinks have on the body from increased risk of heart problems for some to increased risk for diabetes and high blood pressure. These drinks often have high amounts of sugar to help with taste and the quick energy boost.
What Energy Drinks Do To Your Teeth
There are two reasons why energy drinks are bad for your teeth: sugar and acid. As we discussed above, these drinks have high amounts of sugar, and sugar is a major factor for tooth decay. The mouth has hundreds of bacteria types in it and they love sugar just like we do. They’ll go after the sugar and convert it into acid, which combined with the natural acids in the drink can severely damage tooth enamel.
People drink multiple cans of energy drink each day and that wears down the enamel even faster. Once the enamel is weakened, your teeth are susceptible to cavities, staining and sensitivity.
How to Minimize the Damage
You’re probably saying “Dr. Ed, how can I survive the day without energy drinks?” If you can’t go without your energy drinks, try to limit how much you drink and wash your mouth out with water to help lessen the acid damage. It’s a good idea to try and keep your mouth salivated too, so chewing sugar-free gum can help decrease the acidity as well.
Energy drinks may be popular, but unless you limit how much your drink and try to minimize the acid risks to your teeth, we’ll be seeing you sooner than later. Contact us today and we’ll get your appointment set up for a cleaning or checkup.