It can be hard to get through a busy work day and we often turn to caffeinated or even sugary drinks to lift ourselves out of the 3pm slump, but these caffeinated drinks have negative effects on your dental health. It comes as no surprise that energy drinks contain lots of sugars but did you know that they also have very low pH levels that can cause tooth erosion and decay. So what can you do to avoid serious oral health issues? Follow these 3 steps!
- Drink water
Drinking water intermittently while consuming energy drinks, can help dilute the acid covering your teeth and increase saliva production. By increasing your saliva production, you build up a guard that can protect your enamel from erosion
- Brush your teeth an hour after consumption
The enamel of your teeth is softer directly after consuming acidic beverages and if you brush your teeth immediately after consumption, you can actually spread the acid around to other parts of your teeth.
- Know your pH levels
pH is a numeric scale used to determine the acidity of liquids; those with a pH less than 7 are acidic whereas liquids with a pH greater than 7 are basic. With each increase in pH level, the acid intensity increases 10 times more. Some known liquid pH levels are as follows:
- Water: 7.0
- Powerade: 3.89
- Monster Energy Drink: 2.7
- Red Bull: 3.3
- Rock Star Energy Drink: 1.5
For over 30 years, Dr. Lee Weisbard, D.D.S., and her team have provided Colorado and beyond with the highest quality dental experience available. And it all grew out of her compassion for others and a love for the dental arts.
She has the skills and committed excellence in cosmetic, general, and dental implant dentistry that brings you the best dental care in Greenwood Village, DTC, Englewood, Cherry Hills, Littleton, and the surrounding cities of Denver. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious 2018 Colorado Businesswoman of the Year award.