Is your fridge filled with Red Bull? You might want to kick that addiction. A new study released in the journal of General Dentistry has found that drinking energy beverages consistently will cause serious damage to teeth.
Researchers tested 13 sports drinks and 9 energy drinks for acidity levels. While both beverage types cause damage, it turns out energy drinks are twice as acidic. Drinking one of them consistently for just 5 days will begin eroding tooth enamel. Once enamel deteriorates, this cannot be undone — and thinning enamel can lead to tooth sensitivity, decay and cavities.
Unfortunately the younger generation seems to believe that energy and sports drinks aren’t as bad for oral health as drinking soda. But this is entirely false, not to mention alarming: according to the study, 30-50% of teens use energy drinks while 62% drink more than one sports beverage per day.
Let’s break down the results of the study. For five consecutive days, researchers submerged tooth enamel samples into various types of energy and sports drinks for 15 minutes at a time, four times a day. In between the submersions, the tooth enamel sat in artificial saliva.
The study tested the drinks for pH, fluoride levels, and titratable acidity which is “how long it takes for saliva to neutralize acid in the mouth.” Some of the energy drinks tested were Monster Assault, Red Bull, and 5-hour Energy. A few sports drinks involved in the study were Gatorade Rain, Powerade Option, and Propel Grape.
Energy Drinks With The Highest Acidity:
- Red Bull Sugarfree
- Monster Assault
- 5-Hour Energy
- Von Dutch
- Rockstar
Sports Drinks With The Highest Acidity:
- Gatorade Blue
- Hydr8
Turns out these energy and sports drinks are just as bad for your teeth as regular soda. According to Dr. David Katz of the Yale Prevention Center:
“Bacteria convert sugar to acid, and it’s the acid bath that damages enamel, not the sugar directly. So by incorporating a high acid load in a drink, we are just cutting out the middleman on the way to tooth decay.”
For individuals who turn to these drinks for a boost of energy, Dr. Katz suggests instead looking to methods to improve sleep quality and quantity. Because these drinks in excess won’t only destroy your teeth but widen your waistline down the road.
If you’re truly an energy/sports drink addict, experts suggest watering them down or rinsing your mouth with water afterwards. Brushing your teeth right away can exacerbate the problem by spreading the acidity around further. Wait at least 30 minutes (how long it takes the mouth to return to a normal pH) and then brush.
Dr. Mike Malone and his team practice expert cosmetic dentistry in Lafayette, LA. Dr. Malone is the former president and current accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also the official Cosmetic Dentist of the Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageants. Check out his website for more information.