Dental Tips: Rethink Your Sugary Drink

Thinking About Another Sweet Gulp? Think Again

It’s easy to reach for a sugary drink when you’re thirsty, but have you ever considered what happens to your teeth with every sip?

Drinking beverages high in sugars and acids doesn’t just satisfy your cravings—it significantly impacts your oral health.

Aside from tooth decay and cavities, sugar-sweetened beverages can also result in other health risks, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

What are sugar-sweetened beverages?

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are any liquids that are sweetened with various forms of added sugars like:

• Brown sugar
• Corn sweetener
• Corn syrup
• Dextrose
• Fructose
• Glucose
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Honey
• Lactose
• Malt syrup
• Maltose
• Molasses
• Raw sugar
• Sucrose

Common Sugary Drinks You Should Watch Out For

Soft Drinks

• Coca-Cola (355 ml can) – 39 grams
• Mountain Dew (355 ml can) – 47 grams

Energy Drinks

• Rockstar Energy Drink (473 ml can) – 62 grams
• Red Bull Energy Drink (245 ml can) – 27 grams

Fountain Drinks

• 7-Eleven Coca-Cola Big Gulp – 91 grams
• 7-Eleven Coca-Cola Super Big Gulp – 146 grams

Juice Drinks

• Golden Circle Tropical Fruit (591 ml bottle) – 70 grams
• Snapple Lemon Iced Tea (473 ml bottle) – 46 grams
• Daily Juice Orange (591 ml bottle) – 48 grams

Milk Drinks

• Nesquik Chocolate Milk (473 ml bottle) – 58 grams
• Vita Soy Milk (240 ml) – 18 grams

Alcoholic Drink

• Mike’s Hard Lemonade (330 ml bottle) – 30 grams

How Tooth Damage Occurs

When you drink something sugary, the bacteria in your mouth break down the sugar and create acids that damage your tooth enamel. This process leads to tooth decay, cavities, and even enamel erosion.

Some drinks, including fruit juices and diet sodas, contain high acid levels, which accelerates enamel loss and exposes the sensitive inner layers of your teeth.

Tooth erosion occurs when acids weaken and wear down your teeth’s enamel, their outermost layer of protection. Unlike cavities, which can be treated with fillings, enamel erosion is irreversible.

Once enamel is gone, teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and are more susceptible to decay and staining.

Acid attacks last about 20 minutes, and every sip of a sugary or acidic drink restarts the clock, prolonging the damage. If you regularly drink these drinks throughout the day, your teeth are continuously exposed to dangerous acids, which raises your risk of cavities and enamel erosion.

How to Fight Tooth Decay and Enamel Erosion

Preventing tooth damage starts with making smarter beverage choices and adopting good oral hygiene habits.

Here are a few easy yet efficient tooth-protection techniques:

• Use a straw so your teeth are less exposed to sugars and acids in the drink.
• After a sugary or acidic drink, drink lots of water, preferably tap water that has been fluoridated. This aids in mouthwash and sugar dissolution.
• Use fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth. Also, don’t brush your teeth immediately after drinking sugary or acidic beverages. Wait an hour for your teeth to recover and your enamel to reharden before you brush them.
• Do not sip a sugary and/or acidic drink slowly or over a long duration. Doing so will expose your teeth to sugars and acids for longer.
• Never drink sugary or acidic drinks before sleeping at night. The liquid will pool in your mouth, coating your teeth with sugar and acid and causing greater damage.
• Drink plenty of water instead. It has no acid, no sugar – and no kilojoules.

Pay attention to what you drink. Pick healthy alternatives to sugary drinks. Choose to stay healthy and live well.

The Role of Diet in Oral Health

Reducing sugary drinks and making healthy food choices are key to maintaining healthy teeth and gum tissue. A diet with proper vitamin and mineral intake keeps teeth strong and healthy.

Here are some dietary habits that promote good oral health:

• Eat calcium-rich foods – Dairy products, leafy greens, and almonds help strengthen teeth and bones.
• Choose crunchy fruits and vegetables – Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery helps scrape away bacteria, while saliva production creates a defensive acidic barrier.
• Avoid frequent snacking – Daily snacking exposes your teeth to repeated acid attacks.
• Limit acidic foods and drinks – Citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar-based foods can contribute to enamel erosion.
• Drink plenty of water – Drinking enough removes food bits and microorganisms to maintain a clean and fresh mouth space.

Regular Dental Check-ups: A Key to Long-Term Oral Health

Regular visits to the dentist remain crucial for maintaining dental health even when patients practice excellent oral hygiene and healthy eating. Your dentist’s early detection of dental problems allows you to take necessary measures before complications develop.

Professional cleanings remove plaque buildup that brushing and flossing alone can’t eliminate.

Quality Dental Care in Canley Heights

Our team at Canley Heights Dental Care is here to make every visit to the dentist as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Contact us to make an appointment.

Visit your Canley Heights dentist today!

Same-Day Dental Emergency Appointment Available in Canley Heights

To book your dental appointment in Canley Heights, please call (02) 9199 9678 or visit us online.

We are located at 1/229 Canley Vale Road in Canley Heights.