Energy and Sports Drinks Associated with Tooth Erosion

High titratable acidity in energy drinks , and to a lesser extent in sports drinks is a significant predictor of enamel /tooth dissolution a study published in the May issue of General Dentistry . Researchers measured the effects of 13 sports drinks on the enamel of human teeth by immersing the teeth in the drink’s solution for 15 minutes followed by a 2 hour immersion in human saliva . They did this four times a day for 5 days and after each immersion they weighed the remaining tooth structure . This type of testing simulates the same exposure that a large proportion of American teens and young adults subject their teeth to on a regular basis when they drink one of these beverages every few hours . They found that repeated exposure to these dietary acids leave tooth enamel vulnerable to acid wear and erosion of healthy teeth occurs when these acids are left to contact these drinks over an exposed time .