By the time one reaches college level it is common knowledge that sugary drinks should be consumed in moderation. While it may be common for a dental hygienist to have a patient suffering the tooth decay induced from excessive sugar in their drink, dental hygiene students at Madison College tested the acidity of popular beverages.

“You sip all day, you get decay,” said Alicia Selzler, dental hygiene student.

Selzler is a student in the dental hygiene program. During a presentation Feb. 25, she demonstrates beakers filled with solutions with electronic devices inside that measure the pH. For instance battery acid had a pH level of 0, and some of the contemporary energy drinks had pH levels as low as 3.5.

“They’re constantly bathing their teeth in a solution that is 3.0. We even find some that are 2.5 pH. So we know they are very acidic,” said Marcy LeFave, Madison College dental hygiene faculty member.

In the case of citric acid, the consumption of an energy drink such as Rockstar, Monster or Red Bull essentially is bathing your teeth in citric acid. The acid is unlike sugar, in that the acid begins the break down the enamel protecting teeth immediately whereas sugar needs to interact with the bacteria within the mouth.

The main message is to be aware of drinks with low sugar. Vitamin Water Zero, a drink that claims to have low sugar, ends up having a pH level of 3.15. The main problem is that so many people sip these types of drinks regularly.

“The bacteria plus the sugar equals the acid. In all combination it is the acid, and that is what takes a toll on your teeth,” Selzler said.

Citric acid in a beverage produces low results when testing for pH. The reason for this is because in a pH scale a 7 is considered to be neutral, and everything below 7 is more acidic, while everything above 7 is more basic.

Coffee, for example, has a pH of about 5, while milk is slightly less acidic with a pH at 6. Root Beer has a pH of about 4, possibly making Root Beer the least acidic of sodas to consume.

The real danger with sugary drinks is how the sugar interacts with the bacteria within the mouth. This can set off the tooth decay process referred to as the caries process. The decay process happens even faster with drinks that are acidic.