Just How Much Do We Love Our Pumpkin Spice Lattes? 

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 18, 2015) - Ask most Americans what they love about fall and conversations quickly turn to seasonal beverages—especially in Phoenix where fall foliage and November snowstorms are hard to come by. But just how much do we love our pumpkin spice lattes? Today, Delta Dental of Arizona is releasing a new survey of American adults that has the answers.¹ 

Most Americans Drink Up 

According to the survey, a whopping 72 percent of all American adults (more than 175 million people) consume seasonal beverages such as pumpkin spice lattes and caramel apple ciders as the colder months descend upon the nation. 

Those who do indulge, do so quite often. Of the survey respondents who say they do drink the seasonal beverages, 39 percent drink them at least once a week. 

Millennials Are Top Consumers 

Nearly nine in ten (86 percent) 18-34 year-olds consume beverages like pumpkin spice lattes during the fall and winter compared to fewer (67 percent) of those 35 and older who do the same. Over half (55 percent) of Millennials who drink seasonal beverages do so at least once a week compared to fewer (31 percent) of their older counterparts. 

Other findings include:

• Parents are much more likely than Americans without children (53 percent vs. 33 percent) to consume such a drink at least once a week.
• More women than men (77 percent vs. 68 percent) enjoy seasonal beverages during the fall and winter months.
• Regionally, adults in the Midwest imbibe the most (78 percent) followed by the West (77 percent), the South (77 percent) and the Northeast (68 percent). 

“We love our cold-weather seasonal beverages,” said Sandi Perez, PhD, Delta Dental of Arizona’s vice president of community benefit. “While it’s OK to indulge occasionally, keep in mind that much of that sweet taste comes from sugar. If you’re not careful, you’ll quickly surpass the maximum daily recommended intake of sugar, which, over time, could put your teeth and health at risk.” 

6 Tips To Protect Teeth From Sugar Shock
Delta Dental of Arizona recommends following these quick tips to combat seasonal beverage sugar:

1. If you frequently enjoy fall beverages, consider decreasing the number of “pumps” of flavoring added to your drinks to cut back on some of the sugar (a little over one teaspoon per pump).
2. Try to limit the amount of other sugary foods you consume throughout the day if you are going to treat yourself to a fall beverage. 
3. Enjoy your fall beverage with a meal, not as a standalone treat. That way, other foods will help keep the sugar from clinging inside your mouth.
4. Brush your teeth for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste soon after finishing the beverage, if possible.
5. If you can’t brush your teeth, chew a sugar-free gum to help neutralize the acids that attack your teeth.
6. Follow sugary beverages with a glass of water to help wash sugar and acid from your teeth.
   
   

About Delta Dental of Arizona
Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona, serving more than 892,000 enrollees and more than 3,200 contracted dentists across the state. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for more than 40 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.