Coffee and donuts: Beware this quick fix (2024)

You've got a busy work day ahead, but you've slept a little late. So, instead of fixing your usual healthy breakfast, you pour yourself a quick cup of coffee and grab a couple donuts from a box on the kitchen counter.

You've saved some time, but beware. This common quick-fix breakfast scenario can lengthen your time spent in the dental chair!

The sugars in donuts can become a risk factor for gum inflammation and cavities. And keep in mind that one donut can contain as much sugar as a chocolate chip cookie, or even more.

The amount of sugar and cream in your coffee can likewise increase cavity-causing bacteria. What's more: tannins found in coffee etch into the pits and grooves of the tooth enamel, producing a rough stained surface.

What can you do to lessen the sugar bath your teeth receive from this common breakfast combination?

• Don’t nurse your coffeeor pick at that donut throughout the morning. Limiting the time your coffee and donut stay in your mouth reduces the impact of the sugar on your teeth.
• Rinse your mouthwith water or brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste immediately after finishing your breakfast.
• Cut back on the sugarand sweetened creamers in your coffee.
• Swap out the sugary breakfastfor healthier options. If you have time, consider making sugar-free oatmeal with nuts or fruit. If you're on the run, grab portable snacks like a banana, a boiled egg or string cheese.