We get it. You’re working out and could use a boost. It’s 2 a.m. and that essay won’t write itself (darn it). You’re in the middle of a rehearsal that goes on and on and . . . 

It’s easy to reach for an energy drink when you’re feeling a bit low on, well, energy. These drinks are loaded with caffeine, and, like coffee or tea, can help you feel more alert. But before you pop that top, let’s look at how energy drinks affect your dental health.

• Energy drinks are very acidic.

Acid levels are measured using the pH scale, which ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline). Saliva has a normal pH somewhere between 6.2 and 7.6, which helps neutralize any acidic conditions in the mouth and promotes a healthy oral environment. But saliva’s neutralizing effect can be overwhelmed by highly acidic foods and drinks.

Why are higher levels of acids bad for our teeth? Acids strip away minerals like calcium from tooth enamel, minerals which make enamel the strongest substance in the body. This demineralization weakens the enamel’s protective outer structure and can lead to enamel loss, sensitivity, tooth discoloration, and decay.

Many energy drinks are among the most acidic beverages on the market. Mineral loss in your enamel starts to occur when the pH balance in the mouth falls to 5.5 or less. Lemon juice has a pH between 2 and 3. White vinegar has a pH of 2.5. Energy drinks can range from 1.5 to 3.5 on the pH scale! Studies show that regular consumption of energy drinks greatly increases the risk and severity of dental erosion.

• Most energy drinks are full of sugar.

Sugar is easily metabolized, or broken down, by the body. When our bodies break down food, energy is released. That’s why companies add sugar as well as caffeine to their energy drinks. 

The plaque bacteria which create cavities also use sugars in these drinks as an energy source, converting sugars into acids. Just like acidic foods and drinks, bacterial acids break down the mineral structure in tooth enamel. You might notice small white spots when the enamel starts to erode—and a cavity starts to develop. 

• Energy drinks aren’t just bad for your dental health. 

The temporary burst of energy you get from all the sugar in energy drinks is followed by a sugar crash when blood sugar levels go down again, and you can feel tired, weak, or shaky. 

Even worse, one energy drink might contain three to four times the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee. Excess caffeine interferes with healthy sleep. It can cause changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety levels. 

Children and teens are especially vulnerable to the effects of large amounts of caffeine while their brains and bodies are still developing. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend no energy drinks at all for children and teenagers. The FDA suggests that adults should not take in more than 400 milligrams per day of caffeine, while energy drinks can range from around 80 to 400 mg per can. 

If you do have the occasional energy drink, what’s the best way to protect your teeth and gums?

• Don’t linger over your drink. Sipping slowly over time just bathes your teeth and gums in sugar and acids over a longer period. 
• Drink water when you’re done. Water helps wash away sugars and acids, hydrates, and promotes healthy saliva production.
• If the team at Convivial Dental gives gum a thumbs up, chew a piece of sugarless gum after downing an energy drink to increase saliva flow and help neutralize acids in the mouth. 
• Wait at least 30-60 minutes to brush after finishing an energy drink. Acids in the drink weaken enamel, and brushing immediately can be abrasive to the tooth surface.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in proteins, complex carbs, vitamins, and minerals to feel more energetic.
• Keep up with good dental hygiene. Brush twice each day for two minutes and floss daily, or more often as recommended by Drs. Cartsos and Zavras.

If you notice signs of enamel erosion—sensitivity, front teeth which are becoming transparent or rough around the edges, yellowish discoloration, or white or brown spots on your enamel—it’s time for a talk with your dentist. When caught early enough, treatment is available which can stop further erosion from harming your teeth.

It can be harder to brush and floss as effectively when you wear braces, so it’s more important than ever to make healthy choices in your diet and to keep up with your dental hygiene. The team at Convivial Dental in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts is always happy to give hygiene tips! Talk to your dentist or doctor to discover healthy ways to stay focused and energetic. Your workout, your essay, your rehearsal, and, above all, your healthy body and healthy smile will thank you!

We probably all remember sitting through history lessons during our schooling years. Revolutionary war heroes, English royals, and pop-culture icons filled the pages of our textbooks. Although you may recall a detail or two about their historical significance, how much do you know about their teeth?

Picture England in the mid 1500s. People wore frilly clothes as they hustled along the street, and talked about the latest import from the Indies: sugar. Wealthy Brits did not hesitate to indulge their sweet tooth, and it was no different for the monarch, Queen Elizabeth I.

The queen was especially fond of sweets, but not so fond of the dentist. Her teeth rotted; they turned black and gave off a foul odor. Eventually, Elizabeth lost so many teeth that people found it difficult to understand her when she spoke.

Flash forward to the Revolutionary-era colonies in the 1770s and we encounter the famous dentures of George Washington. They were not made of wood, but rather a combination of ivory and human teeth, some of which were his own pulled teeth and some he purchased from slaves.

Washington did not practice proper dental hygiene throughout his life. He began to suffer dental problems as early as age 24, when he had his first tooth pulled. By the time he was inaugurated in as the first president in 1789, he had only one tooth remaining in his mouth, which was pulled in 1796.

Washington’s dentures were made too wide and never quite fit his mouth properly. He complained that they were painful to wear and caused his jaw to protrude visibly outward.

If you’ve heard of Doc Holliday, you know him as the gun-toting, mustached criminal that ran the Wild West in the late 1800s. You might be surprised to learn that John Henry “Doc” Holliday actually had a career as a dentist.

He graduated from dental school in 1872 and began to practice in Griffin, Georgia. Holliday was later diagnosed with tuberculosis and his violent coughing fits during exams drove patients away. Jobless, he packed his bags for Texas and spent the rest of his days running from town to town as a criminal.

The Beatles brought pop music and British culture to their fans, as well as … teeth? In the mid-1960s, John Lennon had a molar removed that he presented as a gift to his housekeeper, Dorothy. Dorothy’s daughter was a huge fan of the Beatles and he thought she might like to a keepsake. Her family held onto the tooth until 2011, when they auctioned it off to a Canadian dentist for $31,000.

These historical figures had very different experiences with their teeth, but it’s safe to say a bit of extra brushing and flossing could’ve saved them a lot of trouble. Whether you’re queen, president, or an average citizen, it’s up to you to practice good dental hygiene!

Ask a member of our team at our Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts office if you have any questions about how to keep your teeth in top shape!

At Convivial Dental, Drs. Cartsos and Zavras and our staff have found that patients who like their smiles have better self-esteem. People who don’t like their smiles are often skittish about talking to other people. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, when women are asked about what they’d most like to change about themselves, many point to their smile. Despite wanting to change their smiles, quite a few of the people who are unhappy about that part of themselves won’t consider getting braces.

Most Americans Don’t Have Straight Teeth

The American Association of Orthodontics estimates that 4.5 million Americans wear braces or other orthodontic equipment to straighten their teeth and to get a healthier mouth. One in five of those braces wearers are women. The organization’s statistics also show that about 75 percent of the population doesn’t have straight teeth, and those people would benefit from getting braces.

While the main benefit of braces is straight teeth, and to improve the look of your smile, there are other benefits that make braces even more useful, including:

• Straighter teeth help people chew better.

• Straighter teeth give people a proper bite.

• People speak better when they have straighter teeth.

• When people have straight teeth, they have better overall gum and mouth health. A healthier mouth means flossing and brushing are easier, and that means your entire mouth stays healthy.
• A healthy mouth is also linked to a healthy body.

When you feel proud of those pearly whites, you feel better about your smile, and that contributes to a better self-image and improved self-esteem. Ultimately, that can lead to greater career success and a more fulfilling social life.

It’s possible to develop tooth decay even when you take great care of your teeth. Brushing and flossing may not be enough to keep your teeth healthy, depending on your diet. Cavities, discoloration, and decay are still possible when certain foods feature in your daily intake. Keep an eye out for foods that will damage your enamel and cause the very issues you’ve been trying to avoid.

What causes enamel damage?

Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that is made of various minerals. Tooth decay results when the acids in your food react with the minerals in your enamel. Strongly pigmented foods may also cause unsightly discoloration on the surface of your teeth. Avoid wreaking havoc on your beautiful smile by identifying the foods that can harm your enamel.

Acid

Acidic food is your teeth’s worst nightmare! This is the greatest cause of enamel damage, even if you brush and floss regularly. To avoid damaging your teeth, make sure you can determine whether a food is acidic or not.

The pH levels are a way to determine acidity on a one-to-seven scale. This defines the relative acidity or alkalinity of a food or substance. Foods with high pH levels are not as likely to harm your enamel.

It’s wise to avoid or minimize foods that are high in acids. Highly acidic food can include fruits such as lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. Moderately acid foods may surprise you; they include tomatoes, maple syrup, pickles, and honey.

Not surprisingly, eggs and dairy products such as milk and cheese contain the least amount of acid. Red wine and coffee can also discolor your enamel if they’re drunk in excessive amounts.

What can I do to prevent enamel damage?

There are plenty of ways to avoid discoloration and decay of your enamel. The best thing to do is limit the amount of high-acid foods, including sugary juices and soda, in your diet.

Another way is to brush and floss regularly, an hour after each meal. If you can’t make time to brush, an easy solution is to swish your mouth with water or mouthwash to rinse away any leftover acidic particles.

Damaged tooth enamel may be common, but is avoidable when you know which foods to stay away from and the steps to take after you do eat highly acidic foods. Take our advice and you’ll be sure to slow down any future discoloration and decay that happens in your mouth.

For more advice on protecting your enamel, give our Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts a call to learn more!