Energy Drinks Get a Calcium Boost for Enamel Safety
A recent in vitro study from researchers at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil has explored whether fortifying energy drinks with calcium compounds could reduce their destructive impact on tooth enamel. As energy drink consumption rises — particularly in Canada, where the market is projected to hit ~$4.4 billion by 2030 — so do concerns about enamel erosion caused by their low pH and acidic content.
The research team experimented with adding three types of calcium-based additives to a popular energy drink (Red Bull): a calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex, dicalcium malate, and calcium citrate malate, each at multiple concentrations. Their goal was to see whether these formulations could mitigate enamel softening and surface damage when the teeth were exposed to the drink for two minutes.
They assessed enamel surface roughness and microhardness before and after exposure, comparing the modified drinks with unmodified controls. The results showed that the calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex in particular could raise the drink’s pH and significantly preserve enamel microhardness, especially at higher concentrations. Drinks fortified with dicalcium malate and the complex showed less hardness loss compared to the unmodified version.
In effect, the fortified drinks appeared less erosive, with less surface damage and roughness. This suggests that adding calcium compounds may offer a practical strategy for formulating “safer” energy beverages for the teeth — potentially reducing their demineralizing effect, even if moderate acidity remains.
However, being in vitro, the study is limited by the artificial setting — real mouths involve saliva flow, pellicle formation, remineralization dynamics, and variable exposure timing. The authors acknowledge the need for in vivo studies and assessments of how these calcium additives behave in real beverage formulations and human oral environments. They suggest this line of research could guide beverage manufacturers toward formulations that are less harmful to dental enamel without sacrificing consumer appeal.
📖 Original Article Info
“Can calcium make energy drinks less harmful to teeth? New study explores”
Oral Health Group, August 22, 2025