We all love coffee. That is a fact. Everyone, including your favorite dentists in the UAE, requires that morning boost to face a day full of hard work. As a result, we all come to get the same devastating impacts of coffee stains on our teeth, without the majority of users noticing it. Some researchers have come forward with studies that show coffee stains teeth more than tobacco does.
Well, the truth is visible. If you conduct research by yourself, have two people who have just gone for teeth whitening in Dubai, and have sparkling white teeth. If one of them was to start taking coffee on a regular, while the other one does not, the results will be visible in a couple of weeks. The person who uses coffee on a regular will have their teeth discolored a few shades darker, compared to the other subject.
This post will help you understand how coffee works to stain teeth, and what exactly can be done to undo or prevent the damage.
How Does Coffee Stain Teeth?
The enamel is the hardest part of your tooth, and it will need more than just a slight knock for it to get cracked. However, the enamel is not flat and smooth. In other words, there are microscopic pits and ridges, which can hold unseen foods and drinks.
Pigments which emanate from dark foods such as coffee, red wine, tea, and soda, can become embedded in those cracks. If proper steps are not taken, this can cause permanent teeth discoloration. The process is so gradual that you only notice it when the damage has been done.
Some people advise that one should add cream to their coffee and avoid too much black coffee. However, this does not really lessen the impacts. The small ridges and cracks will still trap the tiny colored pigments.
There are plant-based compounds called tannins which allow the color compounds found in coffee to stick to your teeth easily. Tannins also get some help in discoloring your teeth by the acidity found in coffee.
Acid makes your teeth’s enamel softer, allowing for easier penetration of the stains inside the teeth. Once the stains have seeped through your enamel, it becomes a lot harder to remove them – even when you brush thoroughly. As your enamel changes with age, continued intake of coffee will only make matters worse.
The only time you can reduce the impact (but not by a vast margin) is when you put a significantly less amount of coffee and make room for more whitener.
Beyond the Yellow: Is there more damage brought by coffee to your teeth?
You have learned that too much coffee intake can discolor your teeth, but is that the only negative impact it has on your oral health? Not quite. This beverage has detrimental effects on your breath as well.
A lot of foods promote the growth of bacteria in your mouth. Do not be worried much about this as your body has been made to fight off these bacteria individually. Your saliva, for instance, has minerals which enable the enamel to repair itself quickly. However, you will still need the help of some water and fluoride to get rid of the stubborn stains.
Not brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular will boost the growth of the bacteria which will, in turn, damage your enamel and the underlying tooth. If left for too long, your teeth become weak, and the stain penetrates even much deeper. This is not to mention the increased risks of cavities, decay, and more sensitivity.
If you take your coffee with several pumps of syrup or a whole lot of sugar, then you are in for more problems. More sugar means more bacteria. Your teeth can quickly get decay, even for someone who brushes them regularly.
Tips on How to Avoid the ‘Coffee Smile’
Should you want to avoid a ‘coffee smile’ altogether, simply avoid coffee. You could go for alternative drinks which will not stain your teeth as much. The problem is, there is a 99.99% chance that you will not quit drinking coffee. Don’t worry; we are not quitting it either.
Instead of going cold turkey, you could make use of our tips on how to avoid stains on your teeth caused by coffee intake;
Brush your teeth right after taking coffee
Whether you have it at home, during the day or as a pick-me-up on your way to work or school, try as much as possible to brush your teeth right after drinking coffee. Brushing gets rid of the bacteria which would have otherwise caused the stains. There is more to it; you will get rid of the bad breath which is associated with this liquid gold.
Use a straw
Using a straw helps you to bypass the effects of having coffee stains on your teeth. It takes the drink straight up to the roof of your mouth. The effects will still be there because there is no way the coffee won’t come in contact with your teeth. But again, you will have significantly reduced the effects.
Rinse
Asking you to brush your teeth during the day while at work or in school might sound technically impossible. If it proves to be hard, rinse your mouth with water. It will work with saliva to try to counteract the effects of bacteria. It still does not replace brushing.
Don’t smoke
Need we say more on this?
Get regular cleaning
Cleaning does not just get your teeth a perfect scrub; it also works to smoothen the enamel making it harder for stains to stick around. You can do this at least bi-annually at some of the most renowned dental clinics in Dubai at very affordable rates.
Good News to Coffee Lovers
If you have stained teeth due to coffee drinking, there is a whole list of teeth whitening methods you can choose from. Keep your coffee, but visit the dentist. Have your teeth checked by some of the best dentists in Dubai today.