Most people would find it extremely hard to start their day on the right foot without a strong cup of coffee. And while there’s no harm in enjoying a daily cup of morning coffee, it’s imperative to know the effects of the beverage on teeth.
Coffee is one of the world’s leading beverages with a whopping 400 million cups of coffee consumed by Americans annually. It’s also one of the leading causes of tooth discoloration.
How does coffee stain teeth?
Although coffee does provide much-needed stimulus in the morning to get the body’s senses going, it does contain tannins. Tannins are a group of bitter and astringent compounds found in plants such as coffee, teas, and wine, all of which cause staining on teeth in varying degrees. Of all these, coffee is the leading culprit of teeth staining owing to its popularity.
The coffee stains on teeth occur over time for coffee enthusiasts as the tannin builds up on the enamel. In time the teeth become visibly discolored. Discolored or yellowing teeth can cause one to smile self consciously. Fortunately, no one should have to endure discolored teeth as a result of coffee because a visit to the local dentist should be able to restore coffee teeth to glistening white.
The enamel of the teeth is indeed the hardest substance in the human body. However, contrary to what most people think, it’s not as smooth and flat as it appears. Upon close inspection with a microscope, the tooth enamel reveals microscopic pits and ridges. These minute crooks and crannies on the enamel can accumulate particles of food and drink. Tannins from coffee accumulate over time and embed themselves into these enamel spaces to cause discoloration.
Can discoloration of teeth from coffee be prevented?
Well, the answer is yes, coffee teeth are preventable. Giving up coffee is not exactly an option for a majority of coffee drinkers. However, one of the solutions is having scheduled coffee breaks that allow one to rinse their mouth or better yet brush their teeth to get rid of any tannins embedded in the teeth enamel.
If one already has coffee teeth, fret not! That’s because a competent dentist can restore the bright white smile in place once again through teeth whitening. They do that by cleaning the teeth thoroughly using specialized solutions as well as equipment.
Conclusion
Rinsing the mouth or brushing teeth after enjoying a cup of coffee is an excellent way of preventing coffee teeth. Coffee lovers can stay ahead of coffee teeth and maintain a brilliant smile by regular visits to the dentist for a thorough session of teeth cleaning.
