🍬 Sugar & Tooth Decay Calculator
It’s not just how much sugar — how often you have it decides how long your teeth stay under acid.
How many times did you have these yesterday?
Count each time separately — two cups of tea at different times = 2.
🥤Soft drink (330 ml can)≈ 35 g sugar0
🧃Packaged juice (250 ml glass)≈ 24 g sugar0
☕Tea or coffee with 2 tsp sugar≈ 8 g sugar0
🍫Chocolate bar (50 g)≈ 25 g sugar0
🍬Sweets / sugary gum≈ 10 g sugar0
🍪Biscuits or cake (a serving)≈ 12 g sugar0
🍯Middle-Eastern sweet (a piece)≈ 20 g sugar0
🌴Dates (3 pieces)≈ 15 g sugar0
⚡Energy drink (a can)≈ 27 g sugar0
📝 How the calculator works
Each time we have sugar, the pH of dental plaque drops below the critical level (about 5.5) within minutes and stays there for roughly half an hour — the Stephan curve. So we count 30 minutes per exposure and add the sipping time if you sip a sugary drink slowly. Sugar amounts are estimates for a typical serving of each item and are compared with the WHO limit.
The result is educational, not a diagnosis: fluoride, saliva, genetics and cleaning between teeth all change your real risk.
🩺 Medically reviewed by: Dr. Mohammad Alshami (Dentist — Oral Surgery & Dental Implants) and Dr. Sohaib Alshami (Surgeon — Aesthetic Medicine) · Last reviewed: 2026-10-02
Sources: WHO Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children (2015) · Stephan RM. Changes in hydrogen-ion concentration on tooth surfaces and in carious lesions. J Am Dent Assoc 1940;27:718–23 · NHS — Sugar: the facts
This tool is for education only and does not replace a dentist's advice.
Frequently asked questions
How does sugar cause tooth decay?
Plaque bacteria turn sugar into acid within minutes. The acid dissolves minerals from the enamel while the mouth stays acidic — usually 20 to 40 minutes after each sugar intake — before saliva gradually restores the balance.
What is worse: the amount of sugar or how often?
Frequency has a big effect on teeth. One sweet after lunch is less harmful than the same amount split into five snacks through the day, because each snack starts a new acid attack.
How much sugar is allowed per day?
The World Health Organization recommends keeping free sugars below 10% of energy (about 50 g for an adult), ideally below 5% (about 25 g, or 6 teaspoons).
Are natural juice and dates bad for teeth?
Juice — even fresh — contains free sugars and acids, so it is better with meals. Dates are nutritious but sticky and sugary, so drink water afterwards.
Does this calculator diagnose cavities?
No. It is an educational estimate of your daily habits. A diagnosis needs a dental check-up.
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