It’s common knowledge that soda is bad for the pearly whites. You’ve probably seen how a tooth is damaged just by being submerged in cola for one whole night back when you were in grade or high school. However, a study which was published by a journal of General Dentistry is that energy drinks actually lead to enamel erosion of up to 3 to 11 times more compared to the effect caused by soft drinks.
How was the study conducted?
The study involved the use of multiple beverages and the immersion of healthy teeth in these respective drinks for up to 14 days in order to simulate 13 years of normal consumption of these beverages. According to that study, lemonade presents the most damage followed by energy drinks, sports drinks, fitness water, iced tea and cola. The results definitely threw most people off guard given that the healthier choice between soda and having a vitamin water would popularly be soda.
What happens when teeth go through enamel erosion?
When enamel erosion happens, this basically describes the dissolution of the enamel crystals which help to protect the inner layers of the tooth. The enamel is the outer layer of the tooth and is composed of dense calcium, resembling the composition and structure of bones.
When the enamel has become worn out, bacteria can infiltrate the inner regions of the tooth which contain fragile soft tissues. The dentin layer, the layer which is found directly underneath the enamel layer, contains minute pores which lead to the pulp layer. Furthermore, the pulp layer houses nerve endings and blood vessels which can be irritated, leading to sensitivity and pain.
What should you do when you have enamel erosion?
Enamel erosion can be addressed by providing a new enamel layer to the affected tooth. The new enamel layer will keep substances out of the tooth. The possible treatments include composite bonding, dental veneers, and dental crowns. Composite bonding makes use of composite resin material which is sculpted on the surface of the tooth. On the other hand, veneers and crowns are made up of porcelain and are cemented on the surface of or fitted over the tooth. While composite bonding is less expensive and can be done in one dental visit, crowns and veneers are more durable and provide more natural-looking restorations.
And lastly…
If you think that brushing your teeth after you consume an entire bottle of energy will help your teeth, it actually will cause more harm than good. This is because softened enamel can be irritated through friction made from brushing of teeth.
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