Are Energy Drinks Beneficial for Your Teeth?

If you already have the message that sweet beverages lead to tooth decay, it is possible you may not have information on how acidic drinks can also harm your teeth. Many people visit the Vancouver dentist with statements they have given up on sodas and shifted over to energy and sports drinks. Unfortunately, people thinking energy drinks are better for their teeth are worse off because they are no better than the carbonated sweet drinks they gave up. Therefore the dentist congratulates them on their move, reminding them energy drinks are no better than the carbonated bridges they decided to refrain from.

Overview

General Dentistry in Vancouver has always mentioned that popular energy drinks are highly acidic and can damage tooth enamel. However, the claims of the dentist recently received a boost when a person from Great Britain posted online photos showing off rotting teeth claiming the damages were due to an addiction to energy drinks. Although the claims haven’t been verified, they have undoubtedly reignited warnings issued by dental experts.

How Energy Drinks Impact Your Teeth?

Tooth enamel is present in humans, animals, and even fish. Ninety-six percent of tooth enamel is minerals. Enamel is the visible part of the tooth and the hardest substance in the body, having the most minerals.

The tooth enamel is irreplaceable, and after it is damaged, it is lost for good. Eating and drinking become a nightmare without enamel. Loss of enamel can also make you prone to losing your teeth, getting crowns or wearing dentures for the remainder of your life.

The acids in energy drinks destroy tooth enamel working rapidly and finishing the destruction even as the acidic liquid sloshes over your teeth while drinking the beverage. If you think brushing your teeth after consuming acidic liquids will prevent the destruction of tooth enamel, you are wrong because it speeds the procedure.

The reality about Energy Drinks

Energy drinks, besides sports drinks and some health drinks, are highly acidic. As a result, your tooth enamel cannot withstand constant attacks from acidic beverages. Sports persons and teenagers consume around four energy drinks every day, and nearly 50 percent of them down at least one energy drink subjecting their teeth to excessive acids.

Research reveals the acidity in energy drinks was twice as high as in sports drinks. Your saliva has a pH level of 6.8 to 7 to maintain neutrality. However, one sip of energy drinks can send your pH levels plummeting to 2, requiring the human body approximately 30 minutes to bring the saliva back to normal pH levels. During the 30 minutes, your teeth are covered in an environment full of acids. Unfortunately, people having energy drinks do not stop at a sip but continue for an entire can or bottle.

Even as they sound much healthier than drinking sodas, they carry a false sense of security around energy drinks that people must try to understand and stay away from them as far as possible.

Excellent dental hygiene depends on various factors such as your diet, genetics, lifestyle, personal hygiene, and susceptibility to dental problems. However, consuming acids regularly will only harm your teeth without benefiting them.

Natural Alternatives to Energy Drinks

If sugar-laden drinks are detrimental for your teeth and fruit juices are also highly acidic, is water the best natural alternative to these beverages? A visit to the dental office will bring you information that having a large glass of water after eating is an excellent way to flush down any residue of foods and acids on your teeth and your mouth. Of course, having water after drinking other drinks is also an excellent idea.

An excellent way to prevent erosion of enamel is to brush your teeth regularly using the proper technique as recommended by the dentist near you. The brushing, besides safeguarding your enamel, also helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. However, you must wait for at least half an hour after eating and drinking before you pick up your toothbrush to ensure you don’t damage your enamel.

Bottom Line

Dental experts are warning against regular consumption of energy drinks because they can cause severe damage to your teeth. Energy drinks are essentially bathing the tooth enamel in highly acidic liquids. Furthermore, while the drinks may produce some hyperactive energy, they can also cause bruxism in the users resulting in teeth clenching and grinding to result in tooth loss and breaks needing treatments.