4 Tips To Avoid Stained Teeth From Drinking Coffee

Sean Gregory All About Coffee
4 minute read

Coffee is life to many people. It is their source of caffeine and provides joy. But, everyone is obsessed with whiter teeth in this day and age and we all know that coffee has the ability to stain. We thought it would be beneficial to talk about different ways that you can prevent your teeth from becoming stained while you still get to enjoy your coffee breaks.

1. Pour some milk into your coffee.

The color of your coffee when you consume it will influence how severely it stains your teeth. When you add milk to your coffee, it lightens the color of the drink and protects your teeth from the staining acids in the coffee. Milk from an animal, such as a cow, is abundant in protein, which binds to the polyphenols in coffee.

Instead of adhering to and coloring your teeth, polyphenols travel to the stomach, where they are quickly broken down. It should be noted that only animal milk will avoid discoloration in this way. Soy milk may taste just as nice in coffee but lacks the same kind of proteins. Because of this, it may not sufficiently protect teeth from coffee stains. Many people feel that the higher the fat content of the milk, the better.

2. Drink as much water as you do coffee.

Drinking coffee and water sip for a sip is an excellent way to keep your pearly whites white. After you finish drinking coffee or even having a bite to eat, avoid stains by swishing around water in your mouth to rinse off your teeth. You don't want to brush immediately after, as your enamel is soft at this time. But water is a great way to rinse your teeth off. You should avoid sipping on coffee all day but have a glass of water to sip on instead.

3. Proper Dental Care

Build-up occurs on the teeth when they are not flossed, brushed, and properly maintained. This film or tartar is much more absorbent than your actual teeth. This is the primary reason for staining on the edges of teeth. If you want to avoid these stains, you should floss regularly.

Tartar is an extremely porous substance that holds a stain considerably better than a tooth. Keep your teeth very clean with flossing, brushing, and seeing your dentist regularly to help avoid plaque buildup to avoid stains.

Brushing your teeth after a cup of coffee may seem like conventional wisdom, but in reality, the enamel is in a softened state. In fact, eating and drinking anything will cause the mouth to produce saliva which causes the enamel to soften. It will become harder after about an hour.

You should never brush your teeth when the enamel is soft or you could damage them. Always wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth after you eat or drink. This will allow your enamel to harden and better protect your teeth.

4. Avoid using tooth whitening strips.

For the same reason that you should wait an hour after drinking coffee, you should do so with teeth whitening strips. These strips will make your teeth more porous and absorb more coffee, causing stains. If you are using teeth whitening strips be sure that you leave some time between the whitening and you drinking coffee. This will, again, allow the enamel to harden up a bit and offer better protection.

Conclusion

Put it to the test! There is no magical technique to instantaneously reverse any yellowing that has already occurred. However, using these tips on a daily basis will help avoid coffee stains on teeth and, over time, will improve and whiten your smile!