Ask the Dentist!
Are Energy Drinks Bad for Your Teeth?
Everyone knows how bad soft drinks are for your teeth – causing enamel erosion and decay. But how about energy drinks? Although not as much research has been done on energy drinks what has been found up to this point may surprise you.
Energy drinks and sports drinks are becoming more poplar with young adults on the go. Most think they are a better alternative to soft drinks, but that is incorrect. A recent study found that most of the popular energy drinks lower the ph in your mouth which leads to softening of tooth enamel. With repeated exposure, enamel loss will be permanent causing teeth to be sensitive and much more prone to decay. Enamel does not grow back so fillings or even crowns may need repair.
If you must drink energy or sports drink, here a few tips to minimize damage to your enamel.
- Drink, don’t sip. This will limit the time teeth are exposed to acid.
- Rinse your mouth out with water. This will remove the excess acid still in your mouth.
- Chew sugarless gum. This will stimulate saliva which contains buffering agents that help to neutralize excess acid.
- Don’t brush for at least one hour after consuming a drink. The combination of acid, which has softened the enamel, and the brushing action with toothpaste can speed up enamel loss by literally brushing it away. Waiting to brush will give time for the ph in the mouth to return to normal and limit the loss of enamel.
