Energy Drinks: More Energy, Less Teeth

Although it is a temporary effect, we know that popular energy drinks can give us the boost we need. However, did you known that they can also slowly take away enamel from our teeth?

How Energy Drinks Harm Our Teeth

Energy drinks affect on our teeth is microscopic and incremental but cumulative over time. The result is called erosion, which is tooth enamel loss caused by acid attacks.

Enamel is the hardest part of our body, a highly mineralized hard structure (98% mineral content). It protects the sensitive part of dentin underneath. Dentin is a vital part of the tooth. It is less mineralized than enamel, therefore making it softer and darker in color and its surface is comprised of small openings called tubules. These microscopic tubules communicate with the nerve chamber also known as the “root canal.”

Missing enamel, due to wear or erosion, will create exposed dentin. This induces teeth sensitivity in young people. So, protecting enamel, minimizing enamel loss, or strengthening enamel by increasing hardness is crucial in patient care.

Unfortunately, when enamel is lost, unprotected and softer dentin will wear even faster so damage becomes exponentially greater. There are very damaging consequences on teeth and its function due to this speed tooth wear. The vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO or distance between jaws) severely decreases creating an older look. The chin will appear too close to the nose. In other words, the jaw will be over closing and lead to following:

1. Damage of Temporomandibular Joints.
2. Pain and dysfunction that may lead to the development of arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joints.
3. Inverted smile due to sagging corners of the lips and face.
4. Shortening of muscles involved in function by increased muscular contraction leading to muscle tensions with a headache.
5. A collection of bacteria in the corners of the lips and developing Angular Cheilitis.
6. Chewing difficulties
7. Aggravation of periodontal issues due to the advancement of gum disease.

What to Do if You Have Any of These Symptoms

If any of the above feels familiar to you, have your occlusion evaluated. It is best to detect signs of wear on your teeth early. This way it can be treated early before devastating consequences.

Options for treatment range from replacing missing teeth to creating new support of worn teeth with dental crowns or onlays. The best treatments are minimally invasive treatments.  Detected early, non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments can be applied to prevent wear advancement during life. Check our website for non-invasive treatments correcting teeth wear.