Maybe you’re one of those people who is a zombie in the mornings before your first cup of kopi. Or perhaps your idea of a perfect day is sipping an artisanal latte in your favourite cafe on a sunny afternoon.
Yet the truth is that your coffee habit could be creating stains on your teeth and turning them yellow.
So now you’re faced with a dilemma. You can’t live without coffee, but the thought of anything less than pearly white teeth is enough to make you shudder.
What’s a caffeinated man or woman to do? Here are some things you should
Coffee creates yellow stains on your teeth
Coffee contains a type of compound called tannins which cause pigments to stick to your teeth. These pigments from any dark coloured drinks you consume including Coke, tea or coffee will stick in the ridges of your enamel.
This causes your teeth to take on a yellow hue and it only takes a single cup of coffee a day to cause stains on your teeth.You might be thinking…
"Maybe if I get lighter-coloured drinks..."
No, drinking lighter-coloured lattes and cappuccinos won’t help either as they still contain the same ingredients that yellow your teeth.
Coffee contributes to bacteria growth on your teeth
Coffee can also cause bacteria to grow in your mouth that causes bad breath. It is also acidic, which means it can wear down the enamel of your teeth.
If you like lots of cream and sugar with your coffee, they can actually worsen the problem by boosting the growth of bacteria.
To add on to the list of negatives, coffee can also dry out your mouth and inhibit saliva production which reduces the acidity in your mouth.
At this point, it seems like there is absolutely nothing good about coffee right?
Look, we’re not saying there aren’t any benefits to drinking coffee. It can fight the bacteria that leads to tooth decay (provided that you drink it black).
But you can’t ignore the fact that coffee does stain your teeth and contribute to bad breath.
So... How can I get whiter teeth AND keep my daily coffee?
Ideally, you can prevent coffee stains by reducing your daily coffee intake.
But we don’t live in an ideal world.
There is no shortage of ways to whiten your teeth on the Internet, but there are lots of teeth whitening myths out there.
The best method to whiten your teeth is to opt for high-quality teeth whitening methods that use ingredients that actually work and are safe for your teeth.
Even if you can’t stop drinking coffee, you can use teeth whitening treatments to maintain a bright smile you can be proud of.
Want a straighter smile for those pearly whites?
Take the next step in your dental self-care
journey: click the link below for your Free Smile Assessment!