Pumpkin Spice Lattes are Spookier than You Think
Is it even Fall if half the people you see during your day are toting a pumpkin spice latte around? PSL or it didn’t happen. But did you know that, besides being chocked full of calories, a pumpkin spice latte has a few other scary things hiding inside that delicious, sweet, cinnamon and pumpkin-y flavor? As a family dentist, of course we’re worried about all the sugar. But what else is lurking in the depths of your venti PSL? Let’s find out –
Negative Effects that PSL has on Your Oral Health
Let’s talk about pumpkin spice lattes and your teeth. There are two main risks to your teeth you run with that PSL habit: cavities and stains.
There are 50 grams of sugar in a 16oz pumpkin spice latte. For reference, the recommended total daily intake of sugar is 24 grams for women and 36 grams for men. When you get a literal flood of sugar in your mouth, it immediately starts breaking down and interacting with bacteria in your mouth to form an enamel-eating acid. This weakens your teeth’s defenses against plaque and tartar, leading to cavities, and also damages your gums. Not to mention, you’ll likely start to notice you’ve been having more toothaches than before.
Your teeth might feel smooth to the touch, but natural tooth enamel isn’t a sealed surface. There are super-small, microscopic holes, pits and other defects in your teeth. Coffee particles of all kinds, but especially those with colored syrups like PSLs, sits in those defects and end up staining your teeth.
Other Health Risks of Your Pumpkin Spice Obsession
We bet you thought it stopped at your dental health, right? Nope. The ingredients in pumpkin spice lattes can have other negative effects on your whole-body health, like:
- Gastrointestinal discomfort and/or damage (carrageenan – in the whipped cream topping)
- Inflammation (dairy)
- Headaches (potassium sorbate – preservative in the pumpkin sauce)
- Decreased good cholesterol (LDL), increased bad cholesterol (HDL) (saturated fats)
- Increased risk of blood clots (saturated fats)
- Insomnia (sugar)
- Lethargy (sugar)
- Increased risk of cancer (sugar, caramel color)
- Increased risk of heart disease (sugar)
- Respiratory dysfunction and/or damage (sulfites – preservative)
Now, this isn’t to say you can’t treat yourself every once in a while – pumpkin spice lattes are delicious. But consider reeling back your daily PSL with regular coffee, take care of your dental health diligently, and maybe ask for only half the pumpkin spice mix next time you order that grande pumpkin spice latte.