Is Your Energy Drink as Acidic as Human Vomit?
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Is Your Energy Drink as Acidic as Human Vomit? The answer might surprise you.
Most people know that sugary drinks can damage teeth. But sugar isn't the only problem. Acidity matters, too.
The pH scale measures acidity from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, while lower numbers indicate greater acidity.
Consider these comparisons:
Human vomit: approximately pH 1.8
Rockstar energy drink: some formulations around pH 1.8–3.0
Gatorade: approximately pH 2.5–3.5
Cola: approximately pH 2.5
Orange juice: approximately pH 3.5
Black coffee: approximately pH 5
Milk: approximately pH 6.5
Water: approximately pH 7
These are approximate values; acidity varies by product and formulation.
Tooth enamel begins to dissolve under sufficiently acidic conditions, often around pH 5.5. Repeated exposure to acidic drinks can gradually wear away enamel, even when those drinks contain no sugar.
And because the pH scale is logarithmic, a drink at pH 2.5 has 1,000 times the hydrogen-ion concentration of one at pH 5.5.
The takeaway? Water is the best everyday drink for your teeth. Enjoy acidic beverages occasionally, avoid sipping them over long periods, and rinse with water afterward.
What you drink matters. How often you drink it matters just as much.
