A man claims shocking damage to his teeth has been caused by his crippling addiction to Monster Energy drinks.

Vinnie Pyner has been drinking six cans a day to help him stay awake for his college studies.

The 21-year-old says he brushed his teeth twice a day but started getting tooth pain and his front four teeth ended up snapping when he bit into an apple.

After guzzling around 45 cans a week for seven months he went cold turkey - but was too embarrassed to go back to college.

His dentist discovered every tooth in his mouth had rotted, he claims, and Vinnie is now set to get 24 fillings and dentures for his front nashers.

Mortified Vinnie, from Margate, is speaking out to warn others about excessive energy drink consumption.

He said: "It started as a way to relieve the stress and pressure from my college course because you have to be focused when it comes to computing and coding.

"But I never thought that it would get this bad, it's affected my confidence dramatically.

"The dentist was extremely shocked to see my teeth and she said that it was one of the worst cases of tooth decay and damage that he had ever seen.

"Looking at my teeth, I realised what I had done, I was in a complete mess.

"I couldn't attend college like this so I had to leave because I couldn't bear the embarrassment.

"I am not sure what the future holds but I hope that I can get back on my feet. It has completely ruined my life."

Vinnie says he started drinking Monster Energy shortly before starting his second-year studying BTEC Computing and Coding at East Kent College, in September 2017.

He said: "It started with three a day at breakfast, lunch, and dinner so I could stay focused during my studies.

"I often felt tired and needed the energy drinks desperately."

Several weeks into the new term, Vinnie started buying multipacks, which increased his intake and dependence.

He said: "It was value for money and much cheaper than to buy individual cans.

"But the temptation of having a pack of four and wanting to drink them all at once got hold of me through the caffeine within them.

"It was like I had to fuel this addiction regularly and if I didn't I would suffer from caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as severe headaches and muscle pain."

At this point, Vinnie's mum Tara starting raising concerns.

The 46-year-old said: "I noticed the habitat getting worse and worse as his bedroom bins were always full of the cans.

"But I never thought it would get this bad."

By Christmas 2017, Vinnie's addiction started to take control and starting having another two cans in-between college classes taking his total to six-a-day.

As a result, he started suffering from tooth pain every time he ate.

In March 2018 he heard a cracking sound after biting down on an apple.

Vinnie said: "I didn't think much about it until I swallowed something hard before realising that my upper four teeth had broken off.

"I was shocked and at the same time very worried, the damage looked absolutely awful."

Mum Tara described the damage as "absolutely shocking".

"The dentist was extremely shocked to see my teeth and she said that it was one of the worst cases of tooth decay and damage that he had ever seen" - Vinnie Pyner

"His upper four incisor teeth had completely fallen off and you could see his gum line, it was horrible," she said.

"As a mum, it was very hard to take in because, for the last seven months, this addiction had taken control of his life."

Dentists found that all of Vinnie's teeth had rotted and was told that he would have to have 24 fillings and a pair of dentures fitted for the front four teeth.

He added: "I can't do much at all, let alone think about my future.

"I can't apply for any jobs because interviewers will take one look at my teeth and say no straight away.

"The smile is the first thing you see in a job interview."

He started dental treatment in September and hopes to return to college and get a job soon.

Monster Energy Drinks has been approached for comment.