Coffee and White Teeth—Can They Co-exist?

Coffee has long been a wake up staple for Americans. Now with the popularity coffee houses, designer coffees, and a generation that prefers sweet tea to carbonated beverages, coffee and tea consumption is at an all-time high. It seems science finds different health benefits to drinking such brewed beverages every day, but you won’t find white teeth among them.

The culprit is the tannic acid found in coffee and tea. It can stain your teeth brown, showing up in the grooves and flat surfaces of your tooth enamel. So what’s a coffee addict to do?

Ideally, you should brush your teeth after drinking coffee or tea. Of course, this isn’t always practical. If you can’t or don’t want to brush your teeth after drinking coffee or tea, consider drinking a glass of water right after you finish – this will help wash off acids. Some studies have even shown that adding milk to coffee or tea can prevent the acids from staining your teeth to the extent of straight coffee or tea alone. You can also try drinking through a straw to keep the liquid from coming into direct contact with your tooth surfaces.

So you think your smile is already a bit on the dingy side from coffee or tea? Whitening is always an option, too. There are many whitening remedies to be found in the health and beauty aisle, some more effective than others. The quickest way to restore your smile to a youthful white is here at Apple Dentistry. Call us today to make an appointment.