Most of us know that certain foods like coffee and red wine stain our teeth.
What people don’t often realize however is that this staining is not necessarily a problem for your dental health.
Over time coffee, in particular, causes discoloration in the teeth and reduces their whiteness.
The reason why this staining occurs is because of the tannins that coffee contains.
Tannins are a natural, organic substance found in some plants. Tea and coffee are both high in tannins, and there is a lot of research to show that they are beneficial to our health and wellbeing.
In the same way that tea and coffee transform the color of the boiling water we put them in, they also gradually change the color of the enamel on your teeth.
This yellowing of the teeth might not look good, but it is actually largely harmless. Staining is mostly an issue for cosmetic dentistry, and if you are worried about discoloration in your teeth, our professional teeth whitening services may be able to help.
How can you reduce the damage done to your teeth by coffee?
There are a few ways to help reduce any potential damage that coffee acid is doing to your teeth.
Rinsing your mouth with water after drinking coffee is an easy way to remove and also dilute any remaining acid in the mouth so that it is less concentrated and has less potential to cause erosion.
There are also some foods you could eat that will help to neutralize acid levels and restore a more neutral pH to your mouth. Foods like cheese are a great go-to snack that also do a really good job of restoring the pH balance.
Those tips are great for preventing or reducing the onset of staining caused by coffee, but what if your teeth are already stained?
If you’re looking for a way to reverse the staining and discoloration that has built up from a lifetime of coffee drinking, there are lots of ways to achieve whiter teeth and restore your smile.
Teeth whitening kits are available at most grocery or pharmacy stores, and there are also professional dentist teeth whitening services like the ones we offer here at Pier Dental Centre.
Should I stop drinking coffee?
If you’re considering stopping or reducing your coffee intake because of a concern over what it might be doing to your teeth, you might be surprised to hear that coffee may also have some added benefits to your dental health.
Research into the dental health benefits of coffee is still in its very early stages, but there are some early indicators that show that coffee may help to prevent bacteria from binding to the tooth enamel.
This is a highly encouraging sign for coffee lovers, as it would mean that coffee could potentially help to hinder tooth decay simply by not giving the bacteria a chance to corrode the surface of the tooth.
Rejoice, coffee and tea lovers!
