Why Energy Drinks May Be Ruining Your Teeth
Energy drinks have become very popular lately, especially by teens and young adults. Many young people might turn to an energy drink the way some adults take to coffee — a little pick-me-up or boost to get you through the day. In fact, some teens may even treat energy drinks like coffee — drinking one or two in the morning to wake up.
About 30 to 50% of teenagers and young people are estimated to consume energy drinks on a regular basis.
These energy drinks can’t be that bad for you, right? After all, they are sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores right alongside other caffeine drinks like soda and mint ice-tea. We hear that a lot at our Cincinnati dental clinic.
Think again. One study published in General Dentistry cautions against the high amount of citric acid contained in most drinks because it can strip the enamel off your teeth.
And once enamel is gone, your teeth are more prone to cavities and decay.
The Danger of Citric Acid to Dental Health
Citric acid is a preservative that enhances flavor and shelf life. It’s contained in fruit juices like lemon or lime juice, but is in even higher concentrations in many energy drinks.
“We are well aware of the damage that sugar does in the mouth and in the whole body — the role it can play in obesity, diabetes, etc,” says Poonam Jain, an associate professor in the School of Dental Medicine at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and the lead author of the study, told NPR. “But the average consumer is not very well aware that acid does all kinds of damage, too.”
A Word from Unhealthy Sponsors
The American Beverage Industry has pushed back against the notion that what you drink can affect your teeth, but they don’t practice family dentistry. They sell sodas, energy drinks, and other beverages that may be adverse to your dental health.
“It is irresponsible to blame foods, beverages or any other single factor for enamel loss and tooth decay (dental caries or cavities),” the ABA said in a statement responding to Jain’s paper. “Science tells us that individual susceptibility to both dental cavities and tooth erosion varies depending on a person’s dental hygiene behavior, lifestyle, total diet and genetic makeup.”
Limit Fruit Juice
The same acid in energy drinks is also present in fruit juice, though to a lesser extent. You should limit your intake of fruit juice — especially orange, lemon or lime juice. This acid can wear away your teeth. Plus, fruit juice does have a surprising amount of sugar. This sugar combined with the citric acid can seriously erode your teeth.
Signs Your Tooth Enamel May be Eroded:
- Sensitive teeth
- Teeth turning yellow
- Teeth developing transparent tips
- Teeth developing cracks or dents
If you’ve experienced any of these effects, talk to your Cincinnati dentist. It may be time to look at your diet and the beverages you consume.
Tips to Preserve Your Enamel
If you do consume energy drinks, there are things you can do to minimize any potential damage to your enamel. First, drink lots of water following consumption of energy drinks — ideally 1 or 2 glasses immediately afterwards. It’s really a good idea to drink water after drinking any beverage that’s not water. It’s even a good idea to drink water after meals to rinse away any food particles.
Brush your teeth regularly at least twice a day for 2 minute sessions. It’s a good idea to do so after consuming energy drinks, but always wait at least 20 minutes after eating or drinking anything to avoid damaging the enamel.