Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/112126
Just the Facts: Energy Drinks Whether your day is just beginning or you���re hitting an afternoon slump, it���s hard to resist the jolt of an energy drink. But it���s a habit that can also wreak havoc on your teeth. Diane Callahan, a dental hygiene instructor at Madison College, explains what you need to know By Kelsey Bewick How do energy drinks affect your teeth? In short: the acid in energy drinks erodes enamel, the thin durable coating on your teeth, which ultimately leads to tooth decay. Although abundant energy drinks with varying acid levels line grocery store shelves, over time the effects remain the same. Teeth become more sensitive to touch and temperature and more prone to cavities and decay. Callahan says the effects of energy drinks are also greater on children with newly erupted teeth because their enamel coating has not fully formed. Why is it worse than soda? Saliva converts the sugar in sodas and sports drinks to acid before enamel erosion can begin, but energy drinks have a high acid content to begin with and subsequently skip the conversion step and jump straight to enamel loss. Because new enamel doesn���t grow, the damage is irreversible. Frequency also plays a big role in how destructive these drinks can be���the more often you toss back energy drinks, the more frequently you bathe your teeth in acid. What alternatives are there? Callahan recommends limiting energy drinks or eliminating them altogether. Seek out coffee for a caffeine boost or water for thirst-quenching hydration instead. But if giving up energizing drinks proves challenging, Callahan suggests drinking through a straw to bypass your teeth, chewing sugarless gum to promote saliva flow, and rinsing your mouth with water afterward. Also wait 30 to 60 minutes to brush your teeth after consuming an energy drink to avoid spreading acid around the teeth. THE VERONA ATHLETIC CENTER Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Aquatic Therapy | Women���s Health PT for Seniors |PT for Injured Workers NOW ACCEPTING HMO 411 Prairie Heights Drive, Suite 101 | Verona, WI 53593 Phone: (608) 848-6628 | Fax: (608) 848-6629 www.capitolphysicaltherapy.com March 2013 bravamagazine.com 13