Sugar-sweetened drinks: Could dental teams help?

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 23. September 2026

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SHEFFIELD, England: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a significant source of daily calorie intake among children and adolescents in the UK. While policy responses such as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy have been helpful, past research has found that dietary interventions delivered in dental settings can change dietary behaviour. A recent qualitative study has therefore explored the possible role of dental teams in helping children and adolescents reduce SSB consumption, incorporating the perspectives of children, caregivers and oral health professionals. The findings indicate broad support for such a role.

The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with children and adolescents, caregivers and oral health professionals working across general dental practice and paediatric and orthodontic services. The interviews followed topic guides designed to identify barriers and facilitators to behaviour change.

Oral health professionals generally recognised conventional SSBs, but some were unclear about the distinction between sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages. Children and adolescents and their caregivers also identified newer popular drinks, including bubble tea and iced coffee, which some oral health professionals said they had not considered when assessing dietary habits.

There was broad agreement that oral health professionals are well placed to discuss SSB consumption and explain its effects on oral and general health. However, oral health professionals generally reported being more comfortable discussing oral health consequences than issues such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Some oral health professionals said they were cautious about discussing weight because of concerns about increasing stigma or prompting complaints from patients. Children and adolescents and their caregivers felt that dental professionals could provide practical advice about alternatives and ways to reduce intake. Oral health professionals also saw value in different members of the dental team contributing to these discussions.

Taste, peer influence, parental modelling and social media were among the factors participants identified as encouraging SSB consumption. Although oral health professionals regarded behaviour change during adolescence as a major challenge, they felt that they could help motivate adolescents to reduce their SSB intake and discussed a range of potential approaches. These included appealing to the desire for an attractive smile and highlighting the benefits of reducing SSB consumption for those seeking or undergoing orthodontic treatment. Because they wanted to maintain a positive experience of dentistry, oral health professionals said they were careful not to use the prospect of invasive treatment as a threat. More broadly, a 2025 systematic review of behaviour change techniques found that feedback on behaviour, information about social and environmental consequences, problem-solving and social comparison may be particularly useful for reducing sugar intake among adolescents.

Oral health professionals questioned whether their current advice produced lasting changes in patients’ behaviour, but were receptive to further training and guidance on supporting SSB reduction. They identified time constraints in National Health Service primary dental care as a major barrier, alongside concerns that existing remuneration structures incentivise treating disease over prevention. Participants therefore supported interventions that could be delivered quickly and practically.

The authors concluded that oral health professionals have an important potential role in reducing SSB consumption among children and adolescents, but need better evidence-based guidance, training and resources. They recommended that future behaviour change interventions be co-designed with patients, caregivers and oral health professionals, combine brief, patient-centred conversations with accessible take-home resources and be evaluated to determine whether they achieve sustained reductions in SSB intake and help prevent caries.

The article, titled “Oral healthcare professionals’ role in reducing young people’s sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: A qualitative study”, was published online on 4 September 2026 in the British Dental Journal, ahead of final publication.