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Are You a Coffee Fanatic? | Ottawa Dentist

Do you wake up and head to the closest coffee shop for a quick fix of coffee? Does it affect your day if you don’t have your caffeinated beverage? You are not alone. Canadians everywhere love to have their Tim Hortons in the morning, and sometimes throughout the day. The problem is many of those beverages are terrible for your smile due to the amount of sugar. And for many, it can be a shocking discovery to find out just how much sugar is involved in their daily. For some, it’s comparable to eating a candy bar.

  • A Tim Hortons double-double has four teaspoons of sugar in it and another teaspoon of sugar from the cream, similar to a 50 g Caramilk bar.
  • Both the Iced Capp and the Iced Capp Light have 39 grams of sugar in their medium sizes — almost 10 teaspoons.
  • McCafe’s Vanilla Chai Iced Frappe has a whopping 19 teaspoons — or 79 grams — of sugar.
  • One medium Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie has about 14 teaspoons, or 57 g, of sugar, because it is made from concentrates and purees, not real fruit.
  • Many believe drinking matcha tea is a healthy choice, but Starbucks grande matcha tea latte has 6 teaspoons or sugar.
  • The grande caramel Frappuccino is more like a desert with its 13 teaspoons of sugar.

Because these drinks have become a daily favorite, and are so sugary sweet, they can really do some damage to our smiles, it is important to look after your teeth afterwards. Rinsing your mouth with water after drinking coffee if a toothbrush isn’t handy is a great rule of thumb. The longer sugar remains on your teeth, the easier it is for bacteria to do some damage.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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MythBusters: Dental Health Edition | Ottawa Dentist

Are you someone that believes in myths? Do you believe them in all aspects in your life? Sometimes myths are fun and whimsical, but sometimes they can become an issue, especially when it comes to your health. Let’s take a look at some of the more common dental myths. What you believe may be doing more harm than good…

Sugar is responsible for tooth decay. While sugar certainly plays a huge role, it’s not exactly the only suspect. Acids produced by the naturally occurring bacteria in our mouth are to blame for plaque buildup that can lead to tooth decay.

White teeth are healthy. The natural color of the teeth varies from person to person and there are those with perfectly healthy teeth, but at the same time, theirs may be darker than those whose teeth aren’t as healthy.

Milk teeth don’t matter. While it’s true that they do eventually fall out, the state of milk teeth can predict their oral health later on in their life.

Bleaching is bad. In years past, bleaching was dangerous but these days, the materials used are pH neutral and are safe for the teeth.

Pregnant women can ignore bloody gums. Hormonal changes can cause bleeding gums but check with your dentist to be sure.

Flossing and rinsing are not important. Flossing is a necessary extra step to prevent the build-up of bacteria on the teeth, mainly in the areas where brushing alone can’t reach. The same goes for rinsing.

Bad breath means gum disease. While it is possible that bad breath may indicate that you have gum disease, it could be a sign of other health complications.

If you would like more information about dental myths, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com.

Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.