For many people, coffee is an essential beverage every day. However, consuming too much coffee can put your bright white teeth at risk due to its potential to cause staining.
Ways to Prevent Teeth Staining from Coffee
Enjoying a cup of coffee is a wonderful way to start your day or savor your afternoon. Moreover, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, drinking coffee can provide health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions.
However, the tannin content in coffee can easily lead to discoloration of teeth with regular consumption. Additionally, the high acidity in coffee can weaken tooth enamel; excessive intake without proper care can damage and easily lead to tooth decay. Dr. Tyler Hales, owner of Facer Hales Parker Dental Clinic in California, states: “When you drink coffee, it’s better to consume it quickly, simply because the longer coffee sits on your teeth, the more it creates an acidic environment.” Dentists also recommend implementing the following methods to protect your teeth while enjoying coffee.
Below are some tips from dentists to help you protect your teeth from staining when drinking coffee.
Drinking too much coffee can cause teeth to stain. (Image: iStock).
Why Does Coffee Stain Teeth?
“Coffee contains tannins that can cause color compounds to stick to your teeth,” says Jenifer Osei-Fosu, a dentist and spokesperson for Pronamel.
Dentist Tina Saw adds, “Tannins cling to tooth enamel, causing yellowing, but there are many ways to minimize this discoloration.”
How to Prevent Coffee from Staining Teeth
Limit Coffee Intake
If you can’t give up coffee, you can still reduce staining by limiting your coffee consumption. Dr. Osei-Fosu advises: “You should not drink more than 2 cups of coffee per day.”
Meanwhile, according to Dr. Saw, the timing of coffee consumption should also be considered. You should finish your coffee in one sitting rather than sipping it throughout the day to minimize staining on your enamel.
Use a Straw
The way you drink coffee can also affect tooth staining. According to Dr. Saw, drinking coffee directly from a cup increases the frequency with which coffee touches your teeth, leading to staining. Therefore, you should use a straw when drinking both hot and iced coffee to protect your teeth.
Dr. Saw states: “Drinking coffee with a straw is one of the best ways to minimize stains on your teeth.”
Add Milk to Coffee
Adding milk to coffee can limit teeth staining. (Image: Coffeewit).
Black coffee has a strong potential to stain teeth. However, you can add milk or cream to your coffee to dilute the acidic dyeing properties in coffee.
Brush Teeth 30 Minutes After Drinking Coffee
Instead of brushing your teeth immediately after drinking coffee, you should wait 30 minutes to avoid staining.
Dr. Saw recommends: “As a dentist, I advise you to brush your teeth 30 minutes after drinking coffee. Coffee is acidic, and brushing immediately can damage your enamel. You should allow saliva time to coat your teeth and protect them from acid attacks. Additionally, brushing 30 minutes after coffee can help remove any stains before they set.”
Use an Electric Toothbrush
According to Dr. Saw, electric toothbrushes are more effective at keeping teeth white and removing stains and plaque between teeth compared to manual toothbrushes.
Drink Water After Drinking Coffee
After enjoying coffee, it’s best to rinse your mouth with water. Dr. Osei-Fosu explains that drinking water after consuming any colored beverage will prevent staining. You should drink a glass of water after coffee to rinse your mouth and protect your teeth.
Floss Daily
If you don’t already have a daily flossing habit, you should start as soon as possible. Dr. Saw encourages daily flossing as it can prevent teeth from staining by removing plaque between your teeth.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, helping to neutralize and balance the oral environment.
“The benefit of sugar-free gum is that it activates salivary glands. The more saliva you have, the easier it is to neutralize the oral environment. You can also eat fruits like apples or bananas to counteract the acidity of coffee but avoid acidic fruits like oranges and grapefruits,” the dentist analyzes.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Proper oral hygiene helps prevent teeth from becoming stained and dull. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Dr. Osei-Fosu states: “Make sure to clean and check your oral health at least twice a year.”
Additionally, Dr. Osei-Fosu and Dr. Saw recommend adopting several habits to keep your teeth healthy, such as drinking water after meals, whitening teeth at a reputable dental practice twice a year, using whitening toothpaste at night, and flossing daily.
