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A new study has found that energy drinks and sports drinks cause irreversible damage to teeth, with energy drinks being twice as damaging as sports drinks. A report recently published in the journal "General Dentistry" found that the high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the glossy outer layer that protects the tooth. Lead author Dr Poonam Jain said: "Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are 'better' for them than soda. Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid." This has led to an increase in tooth decay and the need for fillings.
The report says 30 to 50 per cent of American teenagers regularly consume sports and energy drinks, with as many as 62 per cent drinking at least one sports drink a day. It also says brushing teeth after drinking one of the drinks does more harm than good as this will spread the acid over the tooth enamel. The doctors advised people to wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth. Dr Jennifer Bone of America's Academy of General Dentistry recommended people chew sugar-free chewing gum and rinse the mouth with water after drinking the drinks. She said: "Both tactics increase saliva flow, which naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal."
