Have you seen the prevalence of energy drinks in the marketplace? They are everywhere! They take up a huge portion of the convenience store fridge section and grocery store soda aisle. 30 to 50 percent of teenagers in the United States drink sports/energy drinks, and 62 percent of these consume one or more a day. With these numbers only growing, it is important to ask the question, “What is it doing to my teeth?”

To understand that, one need only take a look at what’s in energy drinks. Check the labels. Most of them contain high amounts of sugar, caffeine, and are very acidic. Regular soft drinks have some of the same ingredients but in lower quantities. So, at the same time that soda consumption is going down (a healthy thing), it is, unfortunately, being replaced by eager drinkers of energy drinks which contain even more caffeine and sugar—much more! These drinks provide a pick-me-up that is helpful when you feel a lack of energy but drinking more than one a day can be damaging to your teeth.

The bottom-line concerning energy drinks is that the combination of sugar and acid packs a one-two punch for your teeth. The acid weakens the protective enamel on your teeth, and the sugar seeps in and feeds the cavity-causing bacteria that contributed to decay. There is nothing better for consistent energy and hydration that pure water. So, limit the energy drinks to an as-needed basis and drink lots of water instead.

If you’d like more education about how diet affects your dental health, call Dr. Nidal Obeid and our helpful team at Family Dental of Roscoe. Phone: (773) 327-6500, or come by our office in Chicago, Illinois.