How to Protect Your Teeth from the Damage Coffee and a Donut Can Do
People choose to grab a cup of coffee and a donut for breakfast all over this country. They do it for different reasons. In some cases, it’s simply a simple breakfast to grab from the local gas station or a cart at work. For others, they simply love the taste and want to treat themselves. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying coffee and a donut once in a while, but at California Dental Group, we’d like to show you how to help prevent damage to your teeth.
Sugar can be a big problem
The sugars found in most any donut is a risk factor for both cavities and inflamed gums. Picture this: A plain donut has as much as five times the amount of sugar you’d find in an oatmeal cookie. If you choose a donut with frosting, sprinkles, and other toppings or fillings, then you can imagine how much sugar is in there.
If you’re a person who likes sugar and cream in your coffee, then you’ll have to consider that they can also encourage the type of bacteria that ends up causing cavities. Finally, the stains people associate with coffee are caused by what are known as tannins. They’re in all coffee and they can get deep within the grooves and pits of the enamel of your teeth. The result is stained teeth.
There are several things you can do to reduce the damage on your teeth
While the best way to prevent your teeth from being damaged by acidic coffee and sugary donuts is to avoid them, many people are willing to risk some damage to their teeth to enjoy a treat. Thankfully, California Dental Group has some tips that can help you reduce the damage.
Limit your eating and drinking time
How long does it take you to drink your morning coffee? Do you have it in a Thermos? Do you drink it all morning? What about your donut, do you pick at it all morning to spread it out? Any of these behaviors can actually make the damage worse. Why? Because the coffee and donut are staying in your mouth for a longer period of time. Anything you can do to reduce the amount of time that your teeth are in contact with the sugar and coffee is worth it.
Rinse your mouth as soon as possible
Ideally, you’d brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste as soon as you’re done eating breakfast. However, if this isn’t possible then you can at least rinse out your mouth. As mentioned above, this will help reduce the amount of time the sugar and donut spend against your teeth.
Get regular dental exams
Getting regular dental exams and cleanings is an important part of your overall oral health. We welcome you to call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 so we can see what damage has been done and how we may be able to help you.
