Does Drinking Coffee Stain my Teeth?
Does drinking coffee stain my teeth?
If you are an occasional or habitual coffee drinker, you might wonder if the coffee might stain your teeth or prevent them from whiter. Additionally, some patients may worry that their fillings or crowns might also be stained from repeated coffee exposure.
It is true that coffee can stain your teeth due to the combination of the acidity and some of the tannins in the coffee. For those reasons, tea is another drink that can stain your teeth with continued exposure. So, if you are an avid coffee or tea drinker, it would be a good idea to be aware of how it can stain and how to minimize any staining.
In short, because coffee staining is caused by a combination of acid on your tooth enamel and tannins, minimizing the time the coffee is on your teeth will minimize the chances of staining. So, in addition to regular brushing, rinsing, and drinking water regularly will also help reduce the effects of coffee staining.
How can I minimize coffee staining?
To reduce the chances of staining your teeth, you can minimize the amount of exposure to coffee, reduce the acidity, and reduce the “surface area” that might be stained.
You could drink “less” coffee to minimize exposure when drinking coffee, but that is not typically a realistic solution for coffee lovers. Instead, you could rinse it with water or even use mouthwash directly after drinking your favorite coffee. This will wash away any residual coffee on your teeth and lower the acid content. Another way to minimize the coffee touching your teeth would be to use a straw – this way, the drink doesn’t feel as many of your teeth. However, we understand this may only work best for those drinking cold coffee.
If you take your coffee with a creamer or dairy substitute, this can lower the acidity of the overall beverage. This provides a sort of “buffer,” so the acidity doesn’t affect your teeth as much. When minding the amount of acidity in a drink, it is essential to note that a more concentrated drink (like espresso) will have a higher acidity, which can also be diluted if taken with a creamer or other substitute.
Finally, another way to minimize coffee staining is to reduce the amount of tooth enamel surface that can have stains – by keeping your teeth polished and shiny. The best way to do this is to regularly visit your Winter Park dentist for cleanings. At the last step of regular cleaning, the hygienist will polish your teeth, removing rougher areas or edges that will “catch” stains. Another way to minimize this is to regularly use a whitening/polishing toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. This gives you a good chance of daily stain removal and polishing, so your teeth will have less prevalence of staining.
What’s the best way to remove coffee stains?
If you focus more on removing stains than preventing them, the two steps are polishing them away and then “bleaching” the stain with a whitening agent.
When you brush your teeth, your toothbrush and toothpaste act to “polish” the minor stains that may have accumulated throughout the day. If you have an electric toothbrush, some have specific modes for polishing or whitening which are designed to do this. To have the most effectiveness, you should also evaluate if your toothbrush head needs replacement and your toothpaste. Different kinds of toothpaste have varying polishing agents, which can be felt as a “grit” in the toothpaste, which helps to mechanically (and gently) polish your teeth during brushing. This is, in essence, how a typical “whitening” toothpaste works.
Once any stains have been removed through polishing, if any staining remains, a whitening gel may be required to achieve the desired color or removal of the stain. This can be achieved through at-home whitening treatments like over-the-counter products or some of our whitening options within our office. For more challenging cases, you may want to ask about our in-office whitening treatments, which are a bit stronger and can target specific areas.
Conclusion
Due to the tannins and acidity of coffee (and tea), frequent consumption of these beverages can stain your teeth over time. However, this is typically mild and takes some time to build up. When you visit the dentist regularly (every six months for checkups/cleaning), your Winter Park dentist typically will have a dental professional polish your teeth – this not only can remove surface stains but also provide a polished surface that stains are less likely to stick to. Additionally, some changes to how we consume these beverages can minimize the amount of staining – such as rinsing your mouth after drinking or drinking through a straw. If you want to remove stains or need a consultation to achieve whiter teeth – please call our office or make an appointment online!