Are These 3 Drinks Safe for Your Teeth? Their Sugar Content May Shock You
It is not a surprise to most people that sugar is bad for their teeth. Sugar acts as a food for bacteria. Once the bacteria has consumed the sugar, it is digested and releases acid. This can erode the teeth, cause cavities, and lead to other serious dental issues. While many people associate soda with high sugar content, there are other types of drinks that many think are healthy but actually cause quite a bit of decay.
To put things into perspective, consider that Coca-Cola has 64 grams of sugar and Spring has 61 grams of soda. How much is this/ 64 grams is about 16 tablespoons of sugar – or about a third of a cup. Today at California Dental Group we are going to look at other popular drinks to see if their sugar content is frighteningly high as well. Remember that getting regular dental exams and cleaning is the best way to combat high-sugar diets.
- Orange juice
- Sports drinks
- Iced tea
Oranges are great sources of Vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system. While the juice itself is good for you, the juice can be less so. Keep in mind that an average sized orange only has two ounces of juice – which means there are approximately four oranges in each eight-ounce serving of orange juice. This serving size has 24 grams of sugar, or about six teaspoons. What’s worse, orange juice is acidic, which is also hard on your teeth. Eating an orange is much better for your teeth – and your blood sugar levels – than drinking juice.
Many athletes drink numerous sports drinks each day. After all, they are healthy options for people who take part in strenuous exercise, aren’t there? Not so fast. The truth is that there are 14 grams of sugar in a one-cup serving of a serving drink. If that doesn’t not seem like much, consider that the regular Gatorade bottle size is 32 ounces – which means it has a total of 56 grams of sugar.
If you are drinking straight iced tea then there is no sugar at all. However, most of the ones you are buying premade in the grocery store are going to have sugar. Take popular brand Arizona tea as an example – it has 24 grams of sugar per eight-ounce serving.
If you are consuming food or drink with large amounts of sugar, then your best bet to combat it is twofold: Make sure you are brushing and flossing the right way and make sure you are visiting the dentist for a thorough cleaning at least every six months. No matter how well you brush, you cannot get your teeth as clean as they would be with a professional cleaning. Contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 now if you want to make an appointment.
