We’ve all been there before – we’re running late for work or class, and so we decide instead to pick up a cup of coffee and a doughnut for breakfast. But while this might be a very convenient breakfast alternative, dentists from the Academy of General Dentistry and Central Dental in Little Rock, Conway, and Jacksonville, AR are not advising their patients continue with this kind of diet.

Sugar-laden foods including doughnuts are known risk factors for gum inflammation as well as the formation of cavities. Cavity-causing bacteria proliferate more readily in an environment that is teeming with food source, and that is exactly what your mouth becomes after just consuming a doughnut.

Cavity Formation

Especially when you take in something sweet so early in the morning, the cavity-causing bacteria have half the day to multiply inside your mouth until you brush your teeth after lunch. As bacteria consume the sugars that are left inside your mouth, they release acidic by-products which have the ability to erode enamel, or the white and tough outer covering of teeth. This can lead to the exposure of another layer of teeth which is known as the dentin. This layer is composed of microscopic holes which lead to the pulp region where blood vessels and nerve endings are housed. Once the pulp becomes accessible, this can lead to annoying problems like pain and tooth sensitivity.

Gum Disease

Another problem which bacteria ushers in is gum disease. Cavity-causing bacteria multiply in a matrix called plaque. Plaque is a product of food debris, bacteria and their metabolites. While plaque is soft and can easily be removed simply by routine brushing of teeth, if left on your teeth, it turns into a very hard and almost rock-like material called tartar. Once you have tartar, the only way to remove them is through a professional dental cleaning from Central Dental.

The problem with tartar is that it accumulates along the gum line and can cause the destruction of gums that they adhere to. For this reason, they induce “pocket” formations, or spaces in between teeth and gums, which is the hallmark of gum diseases. If left untreated for an extended period of time, a simple inflammation of gums or gingivitis could turn into periodontitis which affects deeper gum tissues and jaw bones.

But why are doughnuts singled out? This is because doughnuts are notorious for containing excessive amounts of sugar as compared to other breakfast foods. And if you especially high amounts of cream and sugar in your coffee, then your cup of java isn’t that innocent either.

Visit Central Dental in Little Rock, Jacksonville, or Conway, AR for your 6 month cleaning today.

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopin cc