Energy Drinks & Your Child’s Oral Health

It’s no secret that energy drinks wreak havoc on your health, especially the health of young people and teenagers. These health problems also include damage to your dental and oral health as well. Drinking energy drinks has been linked to cavities, tooth decay and other problems caused by the weakening of tooth enamel.

There was a study conducted recently to analyze the acidity of energy drinks. The test exposed tooth enamel to different kinds of beverages to test their acidity. After only 5 days of average exposure to energy drinks, enamel loss was glaringly apparent. If your or your teenager consumes energy drinks regularly, you may want to consider cutting down or at least brushing your teeth immediately after drinking them.

Why Are Energy Drinks Harmful?

The acids in energy drinks eat away at and weaken the tooth enamel. Below are a few of the results of weakened tooth enamel:

• Tooth Sensitivity – When the enamel wears away, the tooth’s nerve endings are exposed. This will cause sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures or to overly sugary foods.
• Cracks or Chips – Without the enamel to protect the tooth, you may notice the edges of your teeth becoming jagged or irregular, and the teeth will become more prone to cracks or chipping. Once cracks or chips occur, it’s easy for bacteria to enter into the tooth, causing an infection.
• Discoloration – Enamel is the outer layer of the tooth and dentin is what’s underneath. As the enamel wears away, the dentin begins to show through. Because dentin is a yellow color, this will make your teeth appear yellowish and dull.
• Pain – In more advanced stages of enamel erosion, you will begin to experience extreme sensitivity and pain. This pain can come simply from breathing air in as it touches the teeth.

Instead of reaching for an energy drink the next time you’re thirsty, grab some water instead! And if you believe that your child is suffering from weakened tooth enamel, please don’t hesitate to contact Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry, located in Dover, NH!