Energy Drinks and Your Teeth
The popularity of energy drinks has grown dramatically in the past few years. And with good reason: These beverages provide an immediate boost of energy, which helps us stay alert and focused throughout the day. They’re also marketed towards adults who need much more energy than children or teens. However, more often than not, these drinks don’t come with proper dental care considerations. That means they can harm your teeth if you don’t take care to avoid them. Any time you have high acidity or a high pH level in your mouth, it puts additional stress on your teeth and gums. This is true for people who experience problems with their teeth or are at risk for tooth defects like early decay. It only takes one bad habit to create lasting damage to your smile. Even if you don’t usually drink sodas or other sweetened beverages, the same holds for any other beverage that contains sugars and acids that are harmful to teeth if consumed often.
What’s in an Energy Drink?
If you’re considering purchasing a drink that gives you energy, you should know that many energy drinks are full of sugar. Most energy drinks contain more than half a cup of sugar per serving. This is unlike other beverages, like soda or sports drinks, which contain natural sugars derived from fruit. Energy drinks are full of “synthesized” sugars, which are chemically altered and don’t provide the same benefits as natural sugars found in foods. Energy drinks also contain stimulants, which can be harmful if consumed too frequently or excessively.
Harmful Effects of Energy Drinks on Teeth
While energy drinks are high in sugar and acidic, they’re also made with artificial ingredients, which can be harmful. Here are some detrimental effects of energy drinks on your teeth:
Tooth Decay
Too much sugar in your mouth is what leads to tooth decay. When you consume a beverage with high sugar levels, the bacteria in your mouth feed on it and produce acid that erodes your teeth. Too much acidity in your mouth is also a sign of tooth decay, one of the most common dental problems in America. People who drink an energy drink daily have a higher rate of tooth decay than those who consume none of these beverages.
Tooth Enamel Erosion
When you drink an energy drink high in acidity, it can also cause erosion of your tooth enamel, the outside layer of your teeth. It’s generally more straightforward for your teeth to erode when drinking high acidity.
Tooth Sensitivity
Too much acidity in your mouth can cause your teeth to become sensitive, which is a severe issue. You want to ensure you keep your teeth clean and free of bacteria, so they don’t become sensitive. But if you drink high amounts of energy drinks, you might not be able to maintain good oral hygiene.
Tooth Stain
When you take too many energy drinks, you end up with a red or purple stain on your teeth. This is also due to these drinks’ high acidity and sugar content. It’s common for your teeth to stain when you drink too many sugary beverages, like soda or energy drinks. However, if you have a higher pH level in your mouth, it’s more likely that you’ll stain your teeth. The higher the pH level, the more damage your teeth will be exposed to. Energy drinks have a high pH level, so you’ll likely have more tooth staining than if you consume other high-sugar beverages, like soda.
Summary
The caffeine content in energy drinks varies, but it’s typically around the same amount of caffeine found in an equivalent-sized cup of coffee. That can make it easy to overdo and consume too many of these beverages too often. That’s likely due to the high amounts of acidity in these drinks and the increased risk of tooth decay. It’s important to note that the more often you consume these beverages, the more likely you will overdo it and experience harmful effects on your teeth.