Do you love your coffee, caffeine, and other caffeinated drinks and yet still want your teeth shiny white? Fortunately, it is possible to keep your teeth gleaming white despite drinking caffeinated drinks that should stain and darken them.
In this article, we will see how to keep your teeth shining white despite drinking caffeinated drinks.
Keep reading.
Firstly, How Do Coffee and Caffeinated Drinks Stain the Teeth?
The big culprits are tannins, and they are commonly found in caffeinated drinks and coffee. Tannins are a type of polyphenol that breaks down in the water.
Tannins release colored products that stick to rough surfaces on your teeth, causing yellow or brown discoloration.[mfn]https://www.healthshots.com/preventive-care/self-care/cant-forgo-caffeinated-drinks-but-still-need-shining-white-teeth-do-this/[/mfn] These stains are more likely to stick especially if you have plaque present on the tooth surface.
So, How to Keep Your Teeth Shining White Despite Drinking Caffeinated Drinks?
So, how do you remove coffee stains from your teeth? The good news is that these teeth stains are mostly external and not permanent.
In the strong coffee club culture today, where meetings and social gatherings are done over a cup of coffee, steering away from coffee can prove difficult.
If you are a heavy coffee drinker like I am, here are ways to keep your teeth shining white despite drinking caffeinated drinks:
1. Duration of the coffee drink
Do not constantly sip your coffee throughout the day. Have your cup and your caffeine fix in one sitting versus nursing a cup over the day.[mfn]https://dentalstudio.sg/blog/oral-care/how-to-prevent-teeth-stains-from-coffee/[/mfn]
Do take sips of water between your cup of coffee if you are taking it over a prolonged period, otherwise, it would be good to rinse with water after the drink. Wait half an hour to brush so that the acids are neutralized.
Otherwise, you might be spreading the acid all over your teeth. Acid erosion takes away the enamel layer, causing the internal dentine layer to show through. Dentine is yellow, and that can in turn cause more tooth discoloration.
2. Avoid direct coffee contact with teeth
Consider using a straw. Drinking coffee through a straw can help prevent it from having direct contact with your teeth, thus reducing the risk of stains.
3. Brushing
Have a good home care routine in place. Brush your teeth twice a day as instructed by your dentist. Rinse or brush after lunch if you have a cup of coffee, but do wait 30 minutes to brush.
Brushing is the easiest way to get rid of stains. It helps to do a thorough cleaning – both on the surface and between teeth gaps. Regular brushing also removes the layer of plaque, which attracts stains and has millions of bacteria.
It is important to remember that beverages like tea and coffee are acidic in nature and weaken the enamel (the hard outer layer of the tooth).
You can also use whitening toothpaste to help remove some of the coffee stains, but it should be used with care. These toothpastes contain abrasive particles. Overuse or use with a hard bristle toothbrush can cause unnecessary loss of the outer tooth layer through attrition, causing teeth to appear more yellow.
4. Flossing
Flossing is another easiest way to get rid of stains. It helps to do a thorough cleaning – mostly on the surface and also between teeth gaps. Regular flossing also removes the layer of plaque, which attracts stains and has millions of bacteria.
It is important to remember that beverages like tea and coffee are acidic in nature and weaken the enamel (the hard outer layer of the tooth).
Floss every night. This would also help prevent calculus from accumulating. Calculus is hardened plaque and tends to gather around the gaps between teeth and along the gum line. Calculus is very rough and can absorb stains easily.
5. Regular Dental Visits
Most importantly, visit the dentist every 6 months to have a professional dental cleaning done. Coffee and caffeine stains can only be removed using professional tools safely at the dentist’s clinic. Polishing is also done to remove all the stains caused by coffee.
6. Rinse or drink water immediately after drinking coffee or any caffeinated drink
Your enamel has microscopic porosities and the dark pigment from the beverage seeps into it, causing a stain. When you rinse with water or drink anything, the residue stains on the surface of the tooth are removed.[mfn]https://www.quora.com/Can-our-teeth-get-whiter-just-by-brushing-it-regularly-and-stop-drinking-coffee-tea-and-other-beverages-that-can-stain-it-or-stop-consuming-anything-known-to-make-them-yellow[/mfn]
7. Sip, don’t slurp
Yes, drinking hot coffee/tea with a straw seems bizarre, but it helps. It prevents the beverage from coming in direct contact with the outer surface of the teeth. Hence, the overall exposure is reduced. We agree it’s odd to sip on a beverage like this, so you can try using a lid.
8. Eat fruits and vegetables
High-fiber foods like celery, nuts, and fruits like strawberries/apples help in keeping the teeth white and shiny. Raw fruits and vegetables help to rub off the plaque from the surface.
9. Professional Teeth Whitening
If you look at teeth under a microscope, you can see that the enamel is made up of tightly packed crystal structures called rods. While this layer seems solid and smooth to the naked eye, it is possible for the molecules that cause stains to get deep into the enamel by seeping between the rods.
In order to remove the stains, dentists use a solution that permeates where the stains are and breaks them up using oxidation.
The best whitening systems are the ones that feature a buffer in the gel that protects the tooth enamel from damage. These are extremely effective and can transform teeth in a single visit. Your teeth can literally brighten by up to 10 shades in approximately an hour.
In-office teeth whitening only affects the front eight teeth, and is a great jump start for take-home whitening kits, which are always part of an effective long-term teeth whitening program.
Teeth whitening is an all-time favorite and the main weapon of many people in their “white teeth” toolbox. Teeth whitening is very safe and non-invasive. The teeth whitening gel is of neutral pH and does not damage or “eat away” tooth structure.
There are 2 available options for teeth whitening:
- Take-Home Teeth Whitening: This can be done in the comfort of your home and results can be seen in 7 to 10 days.
- Zoom Chairside Teeth Whitening: This teeth whitening process is done in the clinic by our dentist. You can achieve a whiter smile in a single session of about 75 minutes while watching overhead TV.
Some people like to whiten their teeth once a year with Zoom chairside teeth whitening and maintain their brightened smile every 3 months over 3 days, with the take-home teeth whitening kit.
The take-home teeth whitening kit can also be used to replace the Zoom chairside teeth whitening procedure. Simply wear the teeth whitening trays with whitening gel, over 15 minutes a day, or sleep over 7-10 consecutive days for similar results.
The teeth whitening process uses active ingredients to temporarily open pores in your teeth and lift stains. After each whitening session, your teeth will naturally remineralize and rehydrate.
While the pores are temporarily opened, it would be best to avoid coffee and any other food or beverages that can heavily stain a white shirt. This would help to maximize the whitening results achieved.
I would advise patients to avoid coffee 48 hours post-Zoom Chairside teeth whitening and during the period of the home whitening. Use a straw if you need a caffeine fix.
Still on this, you can watch the video below:
So, Can You Still Drink Coffee?
Of course! Even when the drink we love so much can cause yellowing to our pearly white teeth, you are now equipped with the above knowledge to do what you can to allow your teeth to stay healthy and bright while enjoying the drink to the fullest. YOLO!
Last Notes
Who doesn’t enjoy that hot cup of espresso? We know it isn’t easy to give up on your morning addiction to black coffee, but on the other hand, you dream of a sparkling white smile.
So now you see that you can still have those pearly white teeth you’ve always wanted despite drinking your coffee. Yes, it isn’t impossible!
Provided you make sure to follow the instructions given in this article on how to keep your teeth shining white despite drinking caffeinated drinks, then don’t be afraid to smile confidently, as you know your teeth are beautifully white as they should be.
Don’t be shy to consult your favorite dentist periodically. Regular consultations with a dentist (at least bi-annual) are imperative for good oral health. A thorough check-up can help detect and correct any dental or gum problems in time. Also, professional dental cleaning helps remove stains and deposits.
Remember, “a stitch in time, saves nine.”
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