Coffee and donuts: beware this quick fix
You're late for work and skip breakfast, so during the commute, you pick up a donut and cup of coffee and you're on your way. This common quick fix breakfast scenario can lengthen your time spent in the dental chair, reports the Academy of General Dentistry.
The sugars in donuts have been identified as a risk factor for gum inflammation and cavities. The Academy reported findings from a report that compared the sugars found in plain donuts with sugars found in oatmeal cookies. The study discovered that the sugars in oatmeal cookies amount to only one-fifth of the sugars in plain donuts.
The amount of sugar and cream in your coffee also can have a direct effect on the amount of cavity-causing bacteria. Tannins found in coffee etch into the pits and grooves of the tooth enamel, producing a rough stained surface.
What can we do to lessen the sugar bath our teeth receive from this common breakfast combination?
- Don't nurse your coffee or pick at that donut throughout the morning. When you eat your donut quickly, it limits the exposure time to the sugar bacteria attack.
- Rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste immediately after finishing your breakfast.
- Cut back on the amount of cream and sugar in your coffee.
- Instead of a sugary breakfast, try picking up fruit, yogurt or a cup of oatmeal for your portable morning meal.
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