Yesterday it was announced that Wales could see the sales of ‘free drink refills’ banned as part of a new crackdown proposed by the Welsh Government.
The new plans aim to restrict the amount of food and drink promotions that encourage unhealthy food choices, such as those high in salt, sugar, and fat – which would include restricting popular restaurant chains such as Nando’s and Five Guys from selling drink refills as part of their meals.
In light of this news, Dr Smita Mehra, BDS MFGDPRCS and Principal Dentist at The Neem Tree Dental Practices reveals the potential impact on dental health from regularly consuming more sugar than is recommended by dental professionals:
“Anyone consuming fizzy drinks or other sugary substances regularly should be wary of the excessively high levels of sugar used in the production.
“Drinking large amounts of high-sugar drinks sold as part of free drink refill deals can have many adverse effects on our general health, having previously been linked with type-2 diabetes, obesity, and weight gain as the individual’s age.
“From a dental perspective, fizzy drinks with high levels of sugar available in unlimited supply will increase the risk of tooth decay. This also includes any drinks marked as ‘sugar-free’ – which still contain acids that can erode the outer surface of a tooth due to the ‘fizz’.
“The sugars and acids found within soft drinks interact with the naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth to form an acid. This acid then attacks the teeth and will begin to form cavities, decay, and acid erosion. The erosion causes tooth enamel in a person’s mouth to become thinner and softer.
“The weakening of enamel can result in teeth looking discoloured or stained, and also adds a risk of tooth sensitivity, something that no one should be dealing with through their own actions.
“What’s more, many people who take advantage of free refills may tend to sip soft drinks over a few hours or more. Sipping on a drink this high in sugar means that teeth are continually bathed in acid, further worsening the long-term damage to enamel.”
Credit: www.theneemtree.co.uk
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