Most people think of sweets and chocolates when they hear “sugar,” but a huge amount of hidden sugar actually slips in through drinks. Soft drinks, energy drinks, canned juices, flavoured coffees, even “healthy” smoothies can carry a heavy sugar load that your teeth never forget.
Liquid sugar is sneaky because you don’t have to chew it. It washes all over your teeth, mixes with mouth bacteria and creates acids that attack enamel. Sipping slowly over the whole day is even worse – every sip starts a new acid cycle, so your teeth get hit again and again.
Even so-called “no added sugar” drinks can be problematic if they’re high in natural sugars and acids, like some packaged fruit juices. Diet or zero-calorie sodas may not have sugar, but they’re still acidic enough to weaken enamel over time.
You don’t have to live on plain water only, but being aware helps. Keep fizzy drinks for occasional use, not an everyday habit. Try diluting juices with water, choose unsweetened options when possible, and enjoy your sweet drinks in one short sitting instead of sipping all day.
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, rinsing your mouth with water after sugary or acidic drinks, and regular dental check-ups all help repair some of the damage. But the biggest protection is simply cutting down how often sugar flows through your glass.