When 3 p.m. rolls around, are you reaching for an energy drink to keep you productive for the rest of the day? If so, you’re not alone. Dentists are seeing an increase of patients that have dental decay but have no idea why. After a review of diet and oral health habits, we are finding out that more and more individuals are relying on these drinks for supplemental energy.

Energy drinks aren’t very good for your teeth. This year, General Dentistry did a study on the effect of energy drinks. It showed that consumption of energy drinks could lead to erosive tooth wear in as little as 5 days.

Why do these drinks cause so much damage?

Drinks that have high acid content are bad for your teeth and drinks that are high in sugar can wreak havoc – sports drinks are both very acidic and high in sugar. The high acid in these drinks is what erodes tooth enamel, leaving the tooth more susceptible to cavities and decay. The sugar feeds the bacteria that create cavities in your teeth.

And it’s not just energy drinks. Juice, soda, coffee and alcohol all have damaging effects on teeth. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the dyes in some of these drinks can also stain your teeth.

So next time you’re reaching for that tall can at the convenience store, think twice and grab some water instead!