Background: Considering the current high consumption of energy drinks among university students, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between increased energy drinks consumption and teeth hypersensitivity by studying the influence of energy drinks in removing the smear layer and exposing dentinal tubules on root surfaces.
Materials and Methods: Self-administered questionnaire were distributed to investigate the two most commonly consumed types of energy drinks in the community of Saudi Arabia then to study the effect of these two drinks on teeth structures. PH value were determined by pH –meter, titratable acidity was measured as described in A.O.A.C., total sugars and identity sugars were also detected by HPLC for the selected energy drinks. 72 teeth specimen were randomly distributed into 3 main groups. Code Red® and Bison® were evaluated, while distilled water was used as a control. Specimens were immersed for 5 minutes, 3 and 12 hours before micrographs were taken by the scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Results: The most commonly consumed types of energy drinks among Saudi young adults were Code Red® and Bison® with a percentage of 68.6% and 37.8%, respectively. Both energy drinks tested were low-acid products, as indicated by comparatively low pH-values; (3.28 ± 0.036) and (2.72± 0.073) for Code Red® and Bison®, respectively. Also, both energy drinks have very low percent of total acidity. They recorded (0.057 ± 0.008) for Code Red® and (0.040 ± 0.006) for Bison®. However, the non-reducing sugars in Code Red® were markedly higher than in Bison® (6.95% in Code Red® vs. 0.97% in Bison®). Cod Red® hence showed stronger erosive potential on teeth surfaces and complete removal of smear layer at CEJ level when compared to Bison® as confirmed by the SEM results. No direct significant correlation between energy drinks consumption and teeth hypersensitivity had been proved, yet; significant results of associated teeth hypersensitivity was found in younger age group students who smoke during drinking energy drinks with a p-value of 0.006.