Parents love coffee. In fact, many might argue that they need it.
Every day, parent’s across the Rio Grande Valley stop at their favorite Starbucks to order a quick pick me up. Whether it’s before school, after school, or on the way home after running some errands, those sweet, caffeinated drinks help to provide that much-needed boost of energy.
The problem is that the vast majority of these drinks are chock-full of sugar, and often times, we’re letting our little heroes order their own favorite drink as well. And as we all know, sugar is the enemy of our teeth and oral health.
Not only can an overabundance of sugar lead to cavities but it can also have a negative effect on your children’s overall health as well. Here at Heroes Dental, we want parents to be aware of the pitfalls of letting our little heroes drink too many sugary drinks, including Starbucks.
What Can Happen When Children Drink Coffee
Besides having an excess of sugars, there are plenty of other negative effects that coffee and other caffeinated drinks can have on your children, including:
- Cavities – The most obvious issue with the sugar-filled drinks at Starbucks and other coffee shops is that constant consumption can result in cavities. Plus, it’s not only the sugar affecting your children’s teeth but the acid in coffee-based drinks as well. Because coffee is an acidic drink, it can begin to eat away at the enamel of their teeth, making it easier for cavities to pop up.
- Bone Loss– Coffee is a diuretic, which means your children will have to use the bathroom more often. This can lead to a decrease in calcium within the body – and teeth – which, in turn, affect bone density. For every 100 mg of caffeine, 6 mg of calcium are lost.
- Unhealthy Diet– The caffeine in coffee is known to suppress hunger, which means you’re children could be missing out on essential minerals and vitamins that they need for their oral health and overall health.
- Bad Sleep Patterns– Caffeine is a stimulant that can make it difficult for children – and even teenagers – to fall asleep. Ultimately, this can cause bad sleeping patterns which can lead to bad health and eating habits.
Starbucks Drinks Your Children Should Not Have
There are plenty of sugary drinks that you can order at Starbucks but there a few that your little heroes should completely avoid:
- Java Chip Frappuccino: There’s the chocolate base, chocolate flavored chips, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup poured over the entire concoction. And at least 50 grams of sugar per drink. This is more sugar than your child should be consuming.
- Vanilla Bean Frappuccino: Children tend to love this sugary drink that comes with whipped cream. The smallest size comes with an unbelievable 41 grams of sugar.
- Iced White Chocolate Mocha: The white chocolate in this drink is made with vanilla but sweetened with sugar. The entire drink offers 54 grams of sugar.
- Iced Caramel Macchiato: Not only does this drink have 23 grams of sugar but it also includes an entire espresso shot. This highly caffeinated drink should definitely be on every parent’s “No Drink” list.
- “Kids Menu” Drinks: While you might be tempted to think that this menu offers “healthy” options, the truth is that these items still have an abundance of sugars. These drinks still contain at least 25 grams of sugar each!
Make the right choice for your children’s teeth and health. Visit Heroes Dental today.
Regardless if its Starbucks or some other coffee shop, the sweet drinks that can be found at basically every store and restaurant across America are loaded with unnecessary sugars that really damage your child’s teeth.