20 Feb

Kent Dentist Issues Warning Over the Damaging Effects of Energy Drinks

A dentist from Kent has issued a stark warning over the damaging effects of consuming energy drinks after a 21-year old man who had become addicted to Monster drinks shared his story in the national press.
Vinnie Pyner, from Margate, decided to tell his tale to warn others about the dangers of drinking energy drinks. Vinnie started buying cans of Monster when he was at college. At first, he had a can from time to time to keep him awake and give him energy to study, but before long, he was consuming 6 cans per day. Vinnie started to notice that his teeth had become discoloured and weak, and he began hiding away his smile and becoming increasingly withdrawn. When he bit into an apple, his front four teeth crumbled, and he was so distressed that he didn’t even want to tell his mum.
A trip to the dentist confirmed extensive damage, which will require intensive restorative treatment, including new dentures and multiple fillings. Vinnie said that he had become addicted to Monster without really even realising the damage it was doing to his teeth, and he wanted to warn others before they found themselves in a similar situation. Vinnie was so self-conscious that he dropped out of college, and became a recluse, not wanting to see friends or socialise.
In light of the story, Gillingham dentist Dr Alfred Koloszvari, spoke to journalists about the dangers of excessive consumption of sugary drinks like fizzy pop and energy drinks. Even
drinking one can per day can multiply the chances of developing decay by up to 10 times. The sugar content is a problem, but fizzy drinks are also acidic. This means that when you drink an energy drink, your enamel comes under attack. Once the enamel is worn or thin, the tooth is vulnerable, and holes, also known as cavities, are likely to form.
The advice from dentists is to avoid fizzy drinks and to have them as an occasional treat, rather than a staple item in your diet. Drinking through a straw can reduce exposure and lower the risk of acid erosion, and dentists also recommend drinking water afterwards and sticking to meal times. Drinking sugary drinks and snacking on sweet foods between meals can increase the risk of enamel damage further.