Three Drinks That Have More Sugar Than Many People Realize

You would be hard-pressed to find a person who does not realize that sugar is bad for their teeth, but at California Dental Group we have seen many people who do not realize just how much sugar there is in the beverages they enjoy on a regular basis. Keep reading to learn what they are and then contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 if you are ready for deep cleaning and exam.

Let’s Start with a Baseline

First, consider the reasons sugar is bad for your teeth: It causes tooth decay as bacteria eat the sugar that is in your teeth. Those bacteria then digest the sugar and release acid that eventually erodes your tooth enamel and causes cavities.

So that you can understand just how much sugar is in the beverages we will be discussing, consider that Coca-Cola has 64g of sugar in a serving and Sprite has 61g. How much is that? One teaspoon of sugar is equal to four grams. That means that the 64g in Coca-Cola is 16 tablespoons of sugar – that is a full third of a cup!

1. Orange Juice

With 24 g (or six teaspoons) of sugar in a one-cup serving, oranges are high in sugar. Yes, they are also high in Vitamin C, which can help keep your immune system in good shape. However, the full fruit is a better choice. Note that each orange has an average of two ounces of juice, which means that drinking just one cup of orange juice is equivalent to drinking the sugar from four oranges. When you add the acidity of orange juice to the sugar content, you have the perfect storm to harm your teeth.

2.  Sports Drinks

Gatorade, Powerade, and other sports drinks are advertised as safe, healthy options for those who exercise a lot, but what is not advertised is the 14g (or three-and-a-half teaspoons) of sugar in each eight-ounce serving. This may not seem like too much, but consider that this only accounts for one-fourth of the bottle. If you drink the entire 32-ounce bottle, as most people do, then you will be consuming 56g of sugar.

3. Iced Tea

In and of itself, iced tea has no sugar – but if you are buying flavored iced tea then it is likely to have a significant amount of sugar. Consider that there are 24g of sugar in every serving of an Arizona iced tea, and 23g in each serving of Snapple Lemon Iced Tea. Again, this is just a portion of the amount that comes in the standard can.

Do you have to avoid all sugar? No – but you should know what is in the things you are eating and drinking. You should also know how to care for your teeth after eating or drinking sugary foods. At California Dental Group we can give you advice during your next appointment.