Dental Tips: Rethink Your Sugary Drink
Thinking About Another Sweet Gulp? Think Again
Drinking beverages high in sugars and acids not only affect 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
Examples of sugar-sweetened beverages include, but are not limited to:
- Regular soda
- Fruit drinks
- Sports drinks
- Energy drinks
- Sweetened waters
- Coffee and tea beverages with added sugars
So, how much sugar is in your favourite thirst-quenchers?
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
- Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth using sugar from foods and beverages to produce acids that dissolve and damage the teeth.
- Sugar-sweetened beverages have high levels of sugar and drinking; these can significantly contribute to tooth decay.
- Regular and ”diet” soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, and fruit drinks also have high levels of acid that can cause tooth erosion.
- Tooth erosion occurs when acid penetrates the teeth to dissolve the outer surfaces of the tooth enamel.
- Regular enamel loss can lead to cavities and exposure of the inner layers of the tooth that may become extremely sensitive and painful.
- Preventing enamel loss is very important for the long-term health of your teeth.
- Acid attacks usually last for around 20 minutes each. Every time you sip a drink, the acid damage begins all over again.
Fight Tooth Decay and Erosion
- Use a straw, so your teeth are less exposed to sugars and acids in the drink.
- Drink lots of water, preferably tap water that has been fluoridated, after a sugary or acidic drink. Doing so helps rinse out your mouth and dissolve the sugars.
- Use fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth. Also, after drinking sugary or acidic beverages, don’t brush your teeth immediately. Wait at least an hour so your teeth can recover, and your enamel can reharden before you brush them.
- Do not sip a sugary and/or acidic drink slowly or over a long duration. This exposes 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.
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 us on (02) 9199 9678 or book your appointment online.
We are located at 1/229 Canley Vale Road in Canley Heights.