Give Out A Beautiful Smile: How To Prevent Coffee Stains On Teeth?

How To Prevent Coffee Stains On Teeth? Most people start their day with a cup of coffee. The warmth, aromatic scent, and taste of brewed coffee jumps start our day. But, until when would a coffee can put a morning white smile on our faces?

It may not appear immediately, but regular drinking of coffee may lead to teeth stains. Thus, to prevent yellow stains from happening is to proper oral hygiene and the right toothpaste.

How Do Coffee Develop Yellow Stains on Teeth?

Some would say, it would be best to avoid drinking coffee to prevent teeth stains. But, that would be an impossible solution for coffee lovers. Thus, instead of staying away from coffee, it’s best to understand how it develops, maintain good oral hygiene, and come about healthy practices to maintain whiter teeth.

Our Enamel Structure

Our enamel is the hardest mineral substance that protects our tooth cavity. But, it does not have a smooth and flat surface. The enamel has tiny pits that can trap the dark pigments in a coffee. Thus, it might not be obvious to you but every time you drink a coffee, those dark pigments will hang in the pits.

Coffees are Acidic

Coffees are found to be acidic, not the acidity you think that would make your stomach sour. The acidity in coffee tells the desirable quality of its taste. But, overexposure to coffees will degrade our enamel. It may not be visible to those who drink coffee moderately. But, it is persistent enough in coffee addicts. 

As it may be impossible to quit drinking coffee, there are some simple solutions to maintain whiter teeth. When these solutions are maintained, it will decrease the intensity of having teeth yellow stains.

What Happens If Coffee Stains Are Left on the Teeth?

If coffee stains are left ignored, teeth discoloration occurs. Some don’t really make this a big deal, but did you know it can lead to other dental problems? Coffee, like other drinks that are not water, could cause bacteria to breed in the mouth. This could lead to enamel and tooth erosion. These problems could further lead to the teeth becoming brittle and thin. Drinking coffee without proper oral care can also cause halitosis or bad breath.

How To Prevent Coffee Stains On Teeth?

Well, you might be thinking of getting small sips throughout the day to prevent stains. But, that is not effective in preventing yellow stains. The constant exposure to the coffee pigments will only aggravate the effects. It would be best to drink the coffee in one sitting! Moreover, there are some other tips to prevent coffee stains.

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1. Change the Way You Drink

If it’s impossible to give up coffee, you might want to compromise on your drinking habits. For example, if you are used to drinking three cups a day, you can cut back into one coffee in the morning. For the rest of the day, you can have one to two cups of green tea.

Remember, cutting back means having one coffee that you will finish in the morning. Do not sip your coffee so you can keep drinking it most of the day. This does not help in preventing stains. In fact, it may even help in faster buildup of bacteria in the mouth.

2. Adding More Creamer and Sugar Doesn’t Help

Adding more creamer and sugar may make your coffee more delicious. Also, you can feel less impact of the coffee. But, these ingredients only help bacteria in breeding faster.

Also, the more sugar and creamer you add, the more plaque will go into your teeth. This means there is a higher chance of your teeth getting stains and your enamel becoming damaged.

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3. Use a Straw

If you love drinking iced coffee, It is best to drink it with a straw. This is because the coffee will not touch your teeth. Coffee will not stain if it will not touch the teeth. When you drink from a cup or thermos, the coffee will swish around the mouth. It will badly affect the teeth in front of your mouth before you can swallow the coffee.

Do not give the coffee a chance to go near your teeth. Surely, it will not create dark yellow or brown stains on your teeth.

4. Get a Coffee with Less Caffeine

Most people drink coffee in the morning for the caffeine as it jumps start their day. But, the amount of caffeine in the coffee determines the staining intensity of the coffee. The caffeine level is directly related to the level of polyphenols present in the coffee. Thus, a coffee with lesser caffeine has fewer levels of polyphenols making it less staining. 

Decaffeinated coffee has lesser caffeine, and it less likely stains the teeth. Thus, if you change your coffee to lesser caffeine, it will help you prevent stains than expected. Moreover, if you are fond of coffee brews, it would be best to brew in a percolator than in a French press. 

5. Add Milk to Coffee

The brown color of the coffee deeply contributes to the teeth stain. Adding milk will lighten the coffee color. Also, milk provides protection against staining acid.

Cow’s milk, or any milk from animals, has a high level of proteins that binds to the polyphenols in coffee. Thus, there is a lower possibility the polyphenols will move with the milk to the stomach, and not trapped in the enamel pits.

You need to remember that animal milk is the only milk efficient to prevent stains. Soy milk may provide a better taste, but it does not have the same level of protein that can protect the teeth from stains.

6. Maintain Proper Dental Hygiene

Get a bi-annual appointment with your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. Dentists are the experts in cleaning, examining, and giving advice on dental hygiene. Dentist appointments also prevent oral diseases from happening.

By seeing your dentist, they will see the full condition of your teeth and will identify if you need more than a bi-annual check-up. What’s more, dentists can help you choose which dental products are best for your teeth.

7. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Brushing your teeth regularly is extremely important regardless of your drinking habits. If you just finished your coffee, wait for 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.

Doing so removes the buildup of plaque, which is the main cause of tooth decay. It also prevents gum diseases, which can lead to other dental problems. 

Most dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush. Also, it would be best to have a mouthwash as it has whitening components to help fight the stains after flossing and brushing.

Moreover, there are different approaches on how to remove stains. There are kinds of whitening toothpaste that can reverse the yellow stains and regain your shiny teeth. These kinds of toothpaste are manufactured through a high-quality toothpaste machine.  A high-quality toothpaste machine enables the production of reliable toothpaste.

However, you need to keep in mind that everything should be in moderation. Excessive teeth whitening may harm the natural protective layer of your teeth. 

8. Rinse Your Mouth After Drinking Coffee

Rinse your mouth with water right after drinking coffee. Be careful though that you only drink room-temperature water. Drinking something cold right after a hot coffee may have negative effects on your teeth.

Doing so will remove coffee breath, which could get pretty strong and uncomfortable for other people. Also, it helps get rid of coffee residues stuck in your mouth and teeth.

9. Make It a Habit to Floss Your Teeth

Another way to take care of your teeth is to floss them regularly. Flossing helps in removing coffee stains and other food residues that are too stubborn to remove by brushing.

10. Use a Mouthwash

Using mouthwash helps in softening the particles stuck in your teeth and helps in removing coffee stains. What’s more, it keeps your breath smelling pleasant! You can use any type of mouthwash but if your teeth already have stains, it’s better to use those with whitening properties.

11. Buy Over the Counter Teeth Whitening Products

If you are already seeing stains on your teeth, it’s best to purchase teeth whitening products. There are lots of brands that you can directly buy. But, if you have the budget, you can have your teeth whitened professionally.

Take note though, if you have sensitive teeth, then you might not want to try the blue light. Many who have tried it confirmed that blue light stings or burns.

Conclusion

Coffee is an essential go-to drink to relax, start the day, or to keep you up all night. But, excessive consumption of coffees can lead to teeth stains.

While keeping the consumption in moderation, there are simple solutions that can help you maintain a white and perfect smile. One of these is to maintain good oral hygiene and use the right toothpaste.

Also Read:

• How Much Caffeine In A Cup Of Coffee In Starbucks And Different Coffee Types?
• Five Things To Consider Before Buying A Coffee Maker
• 5 Easy Ways To Make Cold Brew Coffee