Energy drinks to blame for teen tooth erosion epidemic
The Australian Dental Association has revealed that recent research has confirmed an epidemic of tooth erosion amongst teenagers.
The research, which involves teenagers from schools across Australia, found that 68 percent of students had signs and symptoms of tooth decay in at least one tooth. Dentists say that fizzy drinks and energy drinks are to blame for the increased levels of tooth erosion amongst teenage children. Fizzy drinks contain a high proportion of sugar and are very acidic and this is a lethal combination for the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth.
Sharon Liberali, from the South Australia branch of the ADA confirmed that teenagers were damaging their teeth by drinking large volumes of highly acidic drinks. Increasingly, young people are relying on energy drinks and carbonated soft drinks for hydration, rather than water, which has a range of health benefits and contains fluoride, which helps to strengthen the enamel. Drinks such as V and Red Bull were amongst the most popular choices for teenagers; both are highly acidic and damage the enamel directly.
Tooth erosion is similar to tooth decay; however, it is caused by chemicals, rather than bacteria. Tooth erosion is often forgotten about because the media focus tends to be on tooth decay; however, rates of erosion are increasing and the number of teenagers suffering from the condition is increasing year on year.
Dentists are keen to make young people aware of the dangers of drinking acidic and sugary drinks on a regular basis; however, they face an uphill struggle, with these drinks ranked amongst the most popular and fastest growing products on the market. Research polls show that 80 percent of students in Victoria regularly drink fizzy drinks and the ADA has confirmed that figures show the market for energy drinks has increased by 20 percent this year alone.
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