I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
Since they hit the market, energy drinks have become very popular with teenagers across Australia. Teens will often use them when at school or studying at home to keep themselves alert. However, energy drinks could be causing damage to your child's dental health. Below are 4 reasons you should limit your child's consumption of energy drinks.
High Sugar Content
The average energy drink contains between 24 and 29 grams of sugar. That is the equivalent of two tablespoons of sugar in every can. This sugar will stick to your children's teeth and provide the ideal environment for the growth of bacteria. In short, increased bacteria levels results in an increased level of tooth decay. If they don't want to give the drinks up, you could encourage your child to drink sugar-free energy drinks. However, even sugar-free energy drinks can cause dental problems.
Highly Acidic
Both standard and sugar-free energy drinks are highly acidic. Acidic drinks eat away at the enamel, which is the hard layer that protects the soft inner pulp of each tooth. Because enamel is a non-living mineral, it cannot repair or replace itself when it is damaged. Eventually, enamel loss will result in pain and discomfort and the eventual death of the tooth. The only way to prevent this problem is to limit the number of acidic drinks your child consumes.
Consumption Between Meals
Energy drinks are often consumed between the main meals of the day or later in the evening. When you consume an energy drink with food, the food helps to neutralise the acids in the mouth. However, when an energy drink is drunk on its own, the acids will linger in the mouth and damage your child's teeth.
Tooth Grinding
As the name suggests, an energy drink is designed to provide a boost of energy, normally in the form of caffeine. However, if your child drinks an energy drink and then sits down to do their homework, while they will expend a lot of mental energy, they will not use much physical energy. This can lead to the development of tooth grinding, in which your child clenches and moves their jaw. The forces generated by tooth grinding can wear down the tooth enamel and lead to cracked teeth. To help to prevent this, you should encourage your child to take some form of exercise when they drink an energy drink.
If you have any concerns about your child's dental health, contact your dentist today.
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