Energy drinks started in the United States with the introduction of Jolt Cola in 1985. This opened the door for a broad range of other beverage companies, both large and small, to enter their own energy products into the market. The result produced a flood of brightly colored cans and bottled drinks full of caffeine and other stimulant products on grocery store shelves across the nation. Americans now spend billions of dollars a year purchasing energy drinks, but at what cost? While research continues on the many overall health effects of energy drinks on the body, the main concern to a dentist, such as those at Roseville Sunrise Family Dentistry in Roseville, CA, is the effects of energy drinks on the health of your teeth.
When a dentist looks at an energy drink container, typical concerns revolve around the sugar content and acidity of the beverages. While there are sugar-free varieties of energy drinks, some brands can carry as much as 66 grams of sugar per container. Continue reading