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Tooth Decay from Sugary Drinks: How Sweet Habits Can Harm Your Smile

by | Jul 16, 2025 | Tooth Decay


If you regularly reach for a soft drink, energy drink, or sweetened iced tea, you may be putting your teeth at serious risk. Tooth decay from sugary drinks is a growing problem—not just for children, but for adults, too.

What might seem like a refreshing treat could be quietly eroding your smile from the inside out. Over time, consuming too much liquid sugar can lead to serious health issues.

Beverages high in sugars and acids don’t just impact your oral health. In addition to producing cavities and tooth decay, sugar-sweetened beverages are also linked to 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 contain high levels of sugar and 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, resulting in sensitive teeth that may become extremely 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

Sugary and acidic drinks can do more harm than you think—but small changes in how and what you drink can protect your teeth in the long run. Here’s how you can fight tooth decay from sugary drinks:

  • 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.

Little adjustments to your daily schedule might have a significant impact—but long-term prevention also comes from knowledge and shared responsibility.

Raising Awareness: A Shared Responsibility

Preventing tooth decay from sugary drinks starts with awareness. Reading nutrition labels, recognising the many forms of added sugar, and understanding how these ingredients affect your teeth empower you to make better decisions.

Children’s drinking habits are also greatly influenced by their parents. Encouraging water instead of soft drinks and limiting fruit juices can help lay the foundation for a lifetime of better oral health.

Every healthy choice you make supports not just your teeth but your overall well-being.

Optimum Dental Care in Belmont WA

At Epsom Dental Care, we know that going to the dentist is not everyone’s favourite activity, but we will make it as enjoyable for you as possible.

We are here to answer any of your questions and ensure that you have a healthy and beautiful smile.

Same-Day Dental Emergency Appointment Available in Belmont WA

If you have any questions about our services, we are happy to answer them and also schedule an appointment. Contact your Belmont WA dentist today at (08) 9478 2349.

We are located at 5/132 Epsom Ave in Belmont WA.