Sometimes after participating in sports, a cold energy drink may sound refreshing. Unfortunately, recent studies have suggested that sports and energy drinks can cause damage to the enamel of your teeth, increasing your chance for cavities. Younger people are particularly fond of these drinks, and few are aware of the long-term damage they are causing their teeth. If teeth need to be straightened by mean of an orthodontic treatment, energy drink damaged teeth make the treatment much harder. At Poole Orthodontics in Santa Maria, we’ve found that young ones fair well when they avoid or limit energy drinks.
Research Results
Researchers who conducted the study analyzed fluoride content and pH levels of 13 sports drinks and 9 energy drinks by soaking tooth enamel samples in drink samples. Samples spent 15 minutes in each drink before spending 2 hours soaking in artificial saliva four different times a day for the next five days.
While all sports drinks did cause damage to teeth, Propel, Gatorade, and Powerade caused half of the enamel loss that Monster, Red Bull, and Rockstar did. Sports drinks, flavored waters, fruit juices usually have valuable ingredients like antioxidants and Vitamin C. Additionally, these drinks are also excellent in replenishing the nutrients an individual loses during a sporting event while decreasing the chances of cancer or heart disease. So they aren’t all bad.
Caring For Your Teeth & Energy Drinks
While there are benefits to these drinks, consuming them regularly can cause significant tooth damage. Filled with sugars that will convert to acid, they will wear away your teeth gradually causing sensitivity, cavities, and eventual tooth loss. While one drink a day could be harmful, there are steps that you can take to reduce these risks. After consuming your sports or energy drink, rinse your mouth with clear water or chew a piece of sugar-free gum. Don’t brush right after drinking one of these drinks because enamel that is softened by acid is easier to damage, even while brushing.
Your mouth needs at least 30 minutes to get its pH level back to normal. Wait about an hour before brushing to remove any sugars that linger on your teeth and gums. There are dozens of flavored waters, energy drinks, and sports drinks for sale today. Dr. Stacy Poole and the team at Poole Orthodontics encourages you to take the time to read the label to check for citric acid and sugar content. If you need additional information or have further questions about this topic, please call our office for more information. Serving Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Santa Ynez and surrounding areas, Poole Orthodontics is here for all of your children or adult orthodontic needs.
1505 Shepard Dr., Suite 101 | Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 623-7272
