Captivate Dental Tips: Rethink Your Sugary Drink

Take a minute and think about what is in the drink you are about to take. If you regularly consume sugary beverages like soft drinks, energy drinks, sweetened teas, or fruit juices, you might be drinking more than just liquid refreshment.

You could be inviting a range of serious health issues, including tooth decay, into your life.

Let’s face it—sugary beverages are everywhere. They’re at social events, work meetings, kids’ lunchboxes, and even promoted as “health drinks” in gyms.

But the truth is, these drinks are not doing your oral health any favours. At Captivate Dental, we want to help you rethink what you drink with some smart, easy-to-follow dental tips that protect your smile and overall health.

The Sugary Truth

Excessive sugar intake is a well-known factor contributing to multiple health conditions—weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and more. But what often gets overlooked is its direct impact on your oral health.

Drinks high in sugar feed the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria produce acid, which attacks tooth enamel and leads to tooth decay.

If left ignored over time, this can lead to cavities, discomfort, gum irritation, and even tooth loss.

Alarming Stats You Shouldn’t Ignore

Here’s what the data tells us:

• It has been estimated that consuming one can of soft drink per day could lead to 6.7kg of weight gain in one year.
• 47% of Australian children (6-12 years of age) consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (including energy drinks) every day.
• Drinking a can of soft drink each day will significantly increase your risk of tooth decay and erosion
• If you drink one 60ml glass of regular soft drink every day for a year, you will drink 23 kilograms of sugar.
• In Australia, over half of the free sugars are estimated to come from sugary drinks.

Still think that daily iced tea or juice is harmless? Let’s break it down.

Sugar Content Breakdown (Per Serve)

Soft drinks: 600ml of Solo contains 69 grams of sugar. 375ml of Fanta includes 41g of sugar. 600ml of Coca-Cola contains 64 grams of sugar

Energy drinks: 250ml of Red Bull contains 27 grams. 500ml of mother contains 51grammes of sugar.

Sports drinks: 600ml of Gatorade Tropical contains 36 grams of sugar. 600ml of Powerade Lemon Lime includes 35 grams of sugar.

Fruit Juice. 591 ml of Golden Circle Tropical Fruit Juice contains 70 grams of sugar. Snapple Lemon Iced Tea (473 ml) has 46 grams. Shockingly, Orange Juice has 46 grams for every 591 ml.

Calcium-rich drinks contain sugar. Nesquik Chocolate Milk (473 ml) has 58 grams, whilst Vitasoy has only 18 grams in 240 ml.

These drinks pack a sugar punch. Even those marketed as “healthy” options, like fruit juice or sports drinks, may contain more sugar than a can of cola.

Why This Matters to Your Teeth

Let’s bring this back to your oral health. Every time you consume a sugary drink, your teeth are exposed to acids that weaken enamel.

After every drink, this acid attack may continue for up to twenty minutes. If you’re sipping throughout the day, your mouth never gets a break.

Over time, repeated acid exposure leads to tooth decay—tiny holes that grow into painful cavities. Worse still, untreated decay can reach the tooth pulp, requiring more complex procedures like root canals or even tooth extractions.

Practical Dental Tips: How to Rethink Your Drink

You don’t have to cut out everything overnight, but these small changes can make a big difference:

1. Choose Water First

Water helps rinse your mouth, dilute acids, and keep you hydrated—make it your main drink.

2. Read Labels Carefully

Check sugar content per serving; many drinks contain more sugar than you expect.

3. Limit Acidic Beverages

Even sugar-free drinks can be acidic. Limit intake and rinse with water afterwards.

4. Use a Straw

A straw helps reduce direct contact between sugary drinks and your teeth.

5. Avoid Sipping All Day

Drink sugary beverages in one sitting and rinse afterwards to minimise acid exposure.

6. Don’t Brush Right Away

Wait 30 minutes after acidic drinks before brushing to protect your enamel.

7. Schedule Regular Dental Visits

See your dentist routinely to catch early signs of tooth decay and get tailored advice.

Oral Health in Cheltenham

Although altering your drinking habits might not seem like much, it can have a significant impact on your general health and oral health. When you limit your sugar intake, especially from drinks, you’re actively protecting your teeth, gums, and overall health.

At Captivate Dental, we provide the highest quality of care and enable patients to make informed choices. Our competent, caring staff provides value through excellent diagnostic skills and efficient use of high-quality materials.

Your Cheltenham dentist offers a wide variety of preventative and cosmetic dental treatments for kids, seniors, and everyone in between!

Contact us at (03) 9553 1249 or visit us at 36 Chesterville Road in Cheltenham