Sleep and exercise are proven stress relievers and help promote health. But many people don't get a good night's sleep, and often find difficulty developing daily exercise routines. People are constantly seeking new products and looking for more ways to become energized. Many athletes, weekend warriors, business people and homemakers have turned to various energy boosters, including very popular and highly promoted sport and energy drinks like Amp and Red Bull.

In a recent study, researchers immersed pieces of human dental enamel (the outside covering of the tooth, and the hardest substance in the body) in 13 popular beverages. The study found that non-cola soft drinks, energy/sports drinks, and commercial lemonade "showed the most aggressive dissolution effect on dental enamel," and in fact, were up to 11 times more erosive than cola! High levels of some additives, such as citric acid, caused the disintegration of the teeth.

A single energy drink may not do much damage to your teeth, but take caution if you frequently consume these beverages. It is better to drink them quickly, rather than sipping them for long peirods of time. Also, following the energy drink with a glass of water can help to rinse away potentially damaging acids.