Coffee and Your Teeth: Learn How Coffee Could Be Affecting Your Oral Health and the Color of Your Teeth
There’s no denying that Americans adore coffee. In actuality, each person consumes ten pounds of coffee beans on average every year. Given that there are over 320 million people in the country, that equates to more than 1.5 tons of coffee. It’s easy to see why coffee is so popular: there are coffee shops on almost every corner, restaurants serve endless coffee, and offices almost always have coffee.
With so much coffee consumption, it can’t be terrible for us, right? Some claim it increases their alertness and productivity. Some claim that it keeps them on task. We won’t discuss how it might be beneficial at your California Dental Group, but we will look at any potential harm it might be doing to your teeth.
Your Teeth Will Go Yellow from Drinking Coffee
Let’s get this out of the way first: drinking coffee will ultimately stain them. There is some debate as to how much coffee you need to consume or how long it takes for your teeth to become noticeably discolored, but one thing is certain: Everyone who regularly consumes coffee will eventually notice that their teeth start to become yellow.
Yellow Teeth Aren’t the Only Issue to Worry About
Most individuals drink coffee solely for the caffeine. While it could keep you awake and attentive, it’s not good for your oral health. Caffeine can dry out the mouth, which is not good for healthy gums and teeth. Even more specifically, coffee breath is a form of foul breath that only occurs in coffee drinkers. Coffee is also acidic. The enamel on your teeth may deteriorate over time as a result.
All of the aforementioned is true for individuals who drink their coffee black, but what about those who add sugar? It probably comes as no surprise that sugar is bad for your teeth, whether you eat it in candy bars or drink it in your regular cup of coffee. If you’ve added sugar to your coffee, we advise brushing your teeth right away.
It Might Not Be All Bad
If the aforementioned has made you nervous, you’ll welcome some of the facts emerging from the most recent studies. Scientists have demonstrated that the polyphenols in coffee, which are responsible for the yellowing of your teeth, may also prevent bacteria from adhering to your teeth. If true, this would be a huge benefit for your teeth. Men have also lately created a clear coffee, which might definitely assist you maintain straight teeth when you drink coffee.
Should You Stop Drinking Coffee?
Of course, this is a matter of preference. If you plan to continue drinking coffee, California Dental Group advises that you try to quit adding sugar to it. We also advise you to maintain your oral hygiene routine and contact us to learn more about teeth whitening solutions if you notice your teeth are yellowing.
