You see them just about everywhere – at the supermarket, in school cafeterias, in vending machines, and even at hospitals. So, why are Energy, Sport, and Soft Drinks Bad For Teeth? Bad effects of energy drinks are often irreversible.
While energy, sport, and soft drinks come in different forms, most such carbonated and non-carbonated beverages have a negative impact on teeth.
Bad effects of energy drinks
As dentists, we see the harm that these drinks do to your teeth every day. We have had to remove many teeth due to the harmful effects of energy drinks and so called soft drinks. We have had to do extensive cosmetic dentistry, veneers, and sometimes, even place dental implants and dentures. All this could have been avoided if people knew the bad effects of energy drinks.
Causes sensitivity of teeth
While sugar is never good for your teeth, the acid in energy, sport, and soft drinks can cause irreversible damage to teeth. A study in the American Journal of Dentistry shows that high levels of citric acid found in beverages works in eroding or thinning out teeth enamel. This makes teeth more susceptible to sensitivity, decay, and cavities. This also causes extreme sensitivity of teeth.
Dispelling the myth
Dispelling the myth the energy drinks are better for oral health than cold drinks, a 2012 study showed that energy drinks contained higher volumes of acid, which caused enamel to deteriorate twice as faster when compared to soft drinks. Another study showed that while acidity levels varied among different brands of energy, sport, and soft drinks, all showed signs of enamel.
How Can You Prevent Damage?
The easiest way to minimize damage is by reducing or stopping the consumption of energy, sport, and soft drinks. If you cannot eliminate them from your lifestyle, following these measures might prove to be beneficial:
Neutralise effect with water. After you drink an energy, a sport, or a soft drink, rinse your mouth with water soon after. You may use water from a drinking fountain or a bottle. This gives your saliva a suitable environment to neutralise acids and restore the proper pH balance in your mouth. The process typically takes around 30 minutes.
Brush after an hour. Toothpaste is not designed to neutralise acids. On the other hand, brushing your teeth soon after consuming an acidic drink spreads the acid all over the mouth. The best is to brush your teeth about an hour after you drink an acidic beverage.
Get regular check-ups. While brushing and flossing should be part of your everyday dental care, you should also have regular check-ups and cleans. This gives your dentist the ability to identify any damage before it worsens. We may also prescribe specific tooth pastes, mousse, and mouthwash if required.
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