3 July 2020
The Daily Liberal, Dubbo
Reporter: Taylor Dodge
Photo Credit: Amy McIntyre
Dentists are warning residents of the danger in drinking sugary drinks. Dubbo Dental Surgery dentist Sophie Halpin said the combination of large amounts of sugar and acids in both fizzy and sport drinks is concerning.
“Knowledge around sugary drinks is really important,” Miss Halpin said. “The large portion of sugar in these drinks combined with acids promote tooth decay and are detrimental to the health of your teeth. The usage of these drinks are prevalent, particular sports drinks which contain high portions of sugar.
“It’s important to know the risks associated with drinking them. A lot of people think sugar free or diet options are safe, however they’re not. These drinks may not have sugar in them but they have high contents of acid which causes acid erosion.”
Miss Halpin said water is always the safest option, and although it can be hard to give up these drinks if you’re an avid user, it is highly advised. “It certainly takes will-power,” she said. “Tap water is simply the best option so why not take advantage of the resources we already have?
“The fluoride in tap water protects the teeth, often you can’t even find it in bottled water so it’s always good to check the labels.” The Australian Dental Association New South Wales is urging Dubbo participants of all ages to ditch the harmful sports drinks and help preserve their teeth and overall health.
Research from Rethink Sugary Drinks has shown one 600ml bottle of energy drinks can contain about 36 grams of sugar – which adds up to be about nine teaspoons. The latest statistics by Rethink Sugary Drinks have shown there are dozens of potentially preventable hospitalisations due to dire dental conditions in the Dubbo area alone every year.
This raises the underlying need for residents to take further actions in looking after their teeth and preventing issues such as tooth decay. With the latest Australian Oral Health Tracker showing almost one in two Australians are consuming too much free sugar, now is the perfect time to ditch the drinks that are wrecking your teeth.
