Feeling a little listless today? Why not perk yourself up by pouring 15 teaspoons of sugar in your mouth?
You probably laughed at the above suggestion, but if you’re a fan of energy drinks, that is the approximate amount of sugar you’ll ingest if you indulge in a 16-ounce serving.
Colas are another source of sugar and empty calories with about 140-150 sugar-based calories in a 12-ounce can. While this may not sound excessive when calculated over the span of a day, consider that adding just one can of sugar sweetened soda to your diet everyday can add up to a 15-pound weight gain in just one year.
From a dental perspective, any sugary or carbonated drinks need to be monitored carefully to prevent tooth decay. Even milk, that most innocent of drinks, contains natural sugar. It is for this reason that we recommend parents don’t allow their babies to drift off to sleep with bottle of milk in their mouths. Natural bacteria live in the mouth and the form of plaque. As milk pools in the mouth, the sugars mix with bacteria to make a mild acid. These acids damage tooth enamel over time by dissolving, or demineralizing, the mineral structure of teeth, producing tooth decay, weakening the teeth and leading to a condition known as “Baby Bottle Syndrome.”
Sugar can sometimes sneak into your diet in the most seemingly harmless ways, which is why it is important to read the labels on drinks, and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after treating yourself to the occasional sugary indulgence.
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Dr. Librada C. Yamat is a Family Dentist specializing in Cosmetic Dentistry. She has been practicing since 1992 in her Daly City office located at 187 Southgate Ave. (650) 991-2832. She is president of the MCU Dental Alumni Association and former president of the American Federation of Filipino Dental Practitioners.