By now, you are probably well aware that drinks high in sugar can damage your teeth. But did you know the same could be said about highly acidic drinks like energy drinks? Yep, your morning pick-me-up could be doing a lot of damage to your mouth! Here’s the 4-1-1 on how energy drinks affect your teeth.
Why Energy Drinks Cause Tooth Decay
Popular ingredients found in your typical energy drink include taurine, caffeine, guarana and you can’t forget sugar. The combination of the first three ingredients make energy drinks highly acidic. Add in a ton of sugar and the effects are even worse.
Drinks high in sugar and acidity can cause irreversible damage to your tooth enamel. Essentially, the energy drinks bathe your teeth in a highly acidic liquid. The bacteria in your mouth consume sugar, which is highly present in energy drinks, and turns it into acid. Over time, this leads to a break down of the enamel and leaves your mouth more susceptible to both sensitivity and decay.
Not only are the ingredients bad for your teeth, but the effects of energy drinks are as well! Energy drinks have been known to lead to hyperactivity, and/or a ‘jittery’ feeling. When this occurs, a lot of consumers tend to grind their teeth more, further wearing down the enamel and resulting in tooth breakage or tooth loss in some more severe cases.
Natural Alternatives
Of course we understand the need for an energy boost during the day! That being said, there are a few natural alternatives that are much better for your teeth. These include:
- Green tea
- Water
- Green juices and smoothies
Try swapping your usual energy drinks out for one of these and note the difference!
