Drinking beverages high in sugars and acids not only affects your oral health, but your general health as well. In addition to tooth decay and cavities, sugar-sweetened beverages (SBB) can also result in other health risks including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
SBBs can “hide” sugar by dissolving it in liquid and then camouflaging it in a bottle or can. You can’t see the sugar, so it is difficult to measure it.
At Comfort Dental, we thought we’d make it easier for you by measuring this sugar in teaspoons and grams, which we all understand!
Soft Drinks – Everyone knows these contain sugar, but that amount varies. A 355 ml can of Coca-Cola has 10 teaspoons of sugar (39 grams), while a Mountain Dew has over 11 (47 grams).
Energy Drinks – These “pep” drinks not only contain chemicals to perk you up, but they also contain plenty of sugar. Red Bull (245 ml) contains 7 teaspoons (27 grams), while the larger Rockstar (473 ml) has a whopping 15 teaspoons (62 grams)
Fountain Drinks – These drinks are big! A 7-11 Big Gulp has 32 teaspoons of sugar (91 grams), while a Super Big Gulp has an appalling 40 teaspoons (146 grams)!
Fruit Juice – Fruit juice has plenty of sugar. Golden Circle Tropical (591 ml) has 17 teaspoons (70 grams) and Snapple Lemon Iced Tea (473 ml). Even Orange Juice (591 ml) contains a surprising 12 teaspoons (48 grams)!
Milk Drinks – We think of milk as wholesome, but it also contains sugar. Chocolate Milk (473 ml) contains 16 teaspoons (58 grams), while the “healthy” alternative, Vitasoy (240 ml) contains an unexpected 4.5 teaspoons (48 grams) of sugar!
Comfort Dental wants you to “be thinking about what you’re drinking!” And try to pick healthy alternatives to sugar-laden drinks. Choose to stay healthy and live well!Contact us on appointment online.