University students living on caffeine and energy drinks are being warned they're doing more than just helping them get through long study sessions.
Overseas research shows up to 60 percent of New Zealanders could be suffering dental erosion, which is the dissolving of tooth enamel caused by acidic food and drinks.
Auckland dentist Dr Andrea Shepperson sees new cases every day with her practice just down the road from Auckland University.
"Younger New Zealanders are consuming drinks in a way that I didn't for example when I was a teenager or a university student. When I was growing up we'd sit around the dinner table and the drink of choice was either going to be milk, water, and sometimes juice."
Andrea Shepperson believes the problem has become an epidemic.
