Sports, energy drinks cause irreversible tooth damage

An alarming increase in the consumption of sports and energy drinks, especially among adolescents, is causing irreversible damage to teeth, according to a study published in General Dentistry.

In particular, high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the study authors noted (Gen Dent, May/June 2012).

Researchers from Southern Illinois University examined the acidity levels in 13 sports drinks and nine energy drinks and found that the acidity levels can vary between brands of beverages and flavors of the same brand.

To test the effect of the acidity levels, the researchers immersed samples of human tooth enamel in each beverage for 15 minutes, followed by immersion in artificial saliva for two hours. This cycle was repeated four times a day for five days, and the samples were stored in fresh artificial saliva at all other times.

Damage to enamel was evident after only five days of exposure to sports or energy drinks, the researchers found, although energy drinks showed a significantly greater potential to damage teeth than sports drinks. In fact, energy drinks caused twice as much damage to teeth as sports drinks, they noted.

With a reported 30% to 50% of U.S. teens consuming energy drinks, and as many as 62% consuming at least one sports drink per day, it is important to educate parents and young adults about the downside of these drinks.