Why Coffee Stains Teeth

During the cold weather, a cup of coffee in the morning taste and feels so good – especially for coffee lovers. There are many people who just love coffee. A good cup of coffee can help wake you up in the morning and make you feel more alert. But coffee lovers, beware; coffee stains teeth. Coffee drinkers can have yellowish colored teeth making smiles not as attractive. Understanding how coffee stains and yellows teeth can help coffee drinkers know why. There are also different ways to help limit coffee stains on teeth.

What Makes Coffee Stain Teeth?

Your teeth are made of an outer layer, known as the enamel. The enamel is the hard, outer surface layer of teeth that serves to protect against tooth decay. The tooth enamel is considered the hardest mineral substance in the body. It is considered even stronger than bones. But despite the enamel strength, certain foods and drinks can affect the enamel. Plaque bacteria can produce acids that weaken and destroy tooth enamel. The tooth enamel can also become stained by foods and drinks. One major culprit that is commonly associated with staining the tooth enamel is coffee. The enamel is not a flat and smooth substance. It contains microscopic pits and ridges that can hold particles from foods and drinks. Coffee has an ingredient or compound called tannins that can lodge and stick to the microscopic pits in the enamel. The tannins leave an unwanted yellow hue in the enamel and staining teeth.

Tips to Reduce Coffee Stains on Teeth

1. Add milk to your coffee. The casein protein in mild can attach to the tannins in coffee to help prevent staining your teeth.
2. Drink your coffee with a straw. But be careful not to burn your mouth.
3. Brush, floss, and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.
4. Schedule regular cleanings and checkups with your dentist.
5. Consider teeth whitening methods. There are whitening toothpastes or mouth rinses and even professional tooth whitening procedures, such as bleaching. A bleaching treatment can help lighten the shade of your teeth and make a noticeably whiter and brighter smile.
6. Consume coffee at specific times, rather than sipping it constantly throughout the day.
7. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee to remove the yellowing pigments from your teeth.
8. Eating raw fruits and vegetables like strawberries and lemons that contain natural fibers can help clean teeth and stains.

If you would like to learn more about how our California Dental Group team can help whiten your teeth from coffee stains, then give us a call at (800) 407-0161 today. We have several options to help you keep your smiles bright and enjoy your coffee too!