Dr. Richard Parsanko runs Sonoran Desert Dentistry in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here, he explains why energy and sports drinks can contribute much more to damaging your teeth enamel than soft drinks.
It is well-known that teenagers drink more energy drinks and soft drinks than they do water. And we all known it can be hard to tell your kids what to do. But did you know that energy drinks can be worse for your teeth than soft drinks? Maybe if you tell your kids to replace their energy drinks with Coke and Pepsi, they will listen (although that’s not exactly a perfect solution).
Drinks such as Gatorade, Red Bull, Powerade, and KMX are popular with both young people and the health-conscious, generally to boost energy before playing sports (or to cram all night before an exam). But researchers at the University of Maryland warn that they can be extremely bad for your teeth — in fact, much worse than soft drinks, which are often described as cavity-forming.
The research shows that the enamel damage caused by non-cola and sports beverages is three to 11 times greater than that from cola-based drinks. Drinks such as Snapple contain food additives such as phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid. These acids, combined with the sugars in these drinks and the natural bacteria in the mouth, can create a “perfect storm” for cavities to quickly form. The acids stimulate the breakdown of tooth enamel, which leads to cavities. They cause the pH level in the mouth to drop, which stimulates the life cycle of the bacteria that cause cavities. (Not to mention the fact that these drinks can overcaffeinate children, which we all know is not a good thing.)
The final results of the study conclude that the drinks that caused the most enamel to dissolve included KMX Energy drink, Snapple lemonade, Red Bull, Gatorade Lemon Lime, Powerade Arctic Shatter, AriZona iced tea, Fanta Orange, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi. Yes, AriZona iced tea has a lot of acid in it. It’s not a regular, brewed tea; it’s a synthetic drink that contains a lot of chemicals. The study also found that soft drinks cause more tooth erosion than black tea.
The major problem with any of these drinks comes not if you chug them down, but if you sip them continuously over an extended period of time. The longer the acids and sugars are in contact with your teeth, the worse they are for you. This is also why you should rinse with water or brush your teeth after drinking energy or soft drinks. Plus, a lot of these drinks, like Monster Energy (”Unleash the Beast”) come in large, 16-ounce containers, which exposes you to more liquid, more sugars, and more acids.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
