Coffee is a substance that more than ninety-five percent of the adult population drinks daily, and more than ninety percent drink at least twice a day. This means that it is one of the most widely eaten foods, one of the most common in any household. But how does coffee affect our teeth?
Why does coffee stain your teeth?
Enamel, the hard outer coating that protects the other layers of the teeth, is covered with microscopic holes. When food and drink particles get stuck in these spaces, an extrinsic stain forms, meaning that the outer layer of the tooth is discolored, but the longer the particles stay in the gaps, they begin to affect other layers of the tooth.
The more you drink coffee and do nothing to remove it, the deeper and deeper the stain becomes and harder to find a solution for your coffee-stained teeth. Here are some tips for you to fight these stains:
Brushing: your first plan of attack
The main cause of coffee-stained teeth is the accumulation of plaque, so brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste and consulting your dentist for regular cleaning are the best ways to prevent ugly coffee stains.
Don’t forget to floss
Let’s be honest: it’s hard to floss as regularly as dentists want you to, but setting aside a few minutes to floss every day can have a big impact on your oral health. Flossing gets rid of plaque in general, and plaque attracts coffee-stained teeth.
Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
Make your own bleach paste by mixing a small amount of baking soda with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. The paste should be quite liquid. If it’s too gritty, that means there’s too much baking soda, and you might rub the enamel off. However, in general, baking powder is less abrasive than toothpaste with baking powder that contains additives.
Add milk
A squirt of milk can make a real difference to your coffee-stained teeth. A study published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene found that casein, the main protein in milk, can bond to the tannins in tea (bitter-tasting particles that leave residue on the teeth) and prevent staining. Coffee also has small amounts of tannins, so coffee drinkers can reap these dairy benefits as well.
Drink water between cups of coffee
A sip of water can quickly remove staining fluids before they begin to settle on the teeth, and so attack the coffee-stained teeth. Also, drinking enough water is a great way to stay hydrated all day.
Chew sugarless gum
Conquer the coffee breath and clean your teeth at the same time. Chewing gum increases the amount of saliva in the mouth, and the saliva removes acids and plaque from the teeth. According to the American Dental Association, chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating can help prevent coffee-stained teeth.
How do I remove coffee stains from my teeth?
Many times, unsightly stains on teeth are easier to remove than they appear. But in order to fix them, it is first necessary to determine the origin and extent of the stains. This one, once he has carried out a dental examination and a diagnosis, will be able to establish the most suitable treatment:
Professional dental cleaning
If the coffee stains are superficial, they can be removed by professional dental cleaning. In order to achieve this exhaustiveness, hygienists carry out a cleaning that lasts approximately 50 minutes. This includes, in addition to the usual procedures, a brushing with special paste and bicarbonate aeropulator.
In particular, this step serves to remove any surface stains that may have adhered to the tooth, If this step is not carried out, the dental cleaning will not serve to remove the superficial stains.
Dental whitening
In other cases, discoloration can be solved by tooth whitening. Most of treatment are based on splints with whitening gel that the patient puts on at home and a session of cold light lamp in the clinic, which serves to enhance the action of the splints, which serves to enhance the action of the splints and therefore achieve a better result in removing coffee stains from your teeth