Five Ways To Fight Stains And Still Get Your Coffee Kick

25 January 2018
 Categories: Dentist, Blog


For many people around the world, coffee is a must first thing in the morning. In fact, according to USA Today, around 80% of grown adults drink coffee everyday. While coffee has actually been linked to have some health benefits, there is still one side affect that coffee drinkers struggle with, which is stains on their teeth. Here are five ways these stains can be fought:

  1. Add Milk: Adding milk to coffee is a great way to reduce the chance of heavy staining on the teeth. Add to the fact that milk has a good amount of protein, which is not only good for you, but also attaches to the polyphenols found in coffee. Why is this a good thing? The polyphenols are what cause the staining in the first place because this is what attaches itself to the teeth, which causes those deep, set in stains. The protein from the milk, however, will carry these away and into the tummy rather than onto your teeth. 
  2. Get Decaf: Many people would gasp at this suggestion, but switching to decaf can actually help fight the stains because it has less polyphenols. However, if you must have the caffeine, consider choosing decaf when you find yourself wanting an afternoon or late evening cup of coffee. Not only will this help prevent staining, but it will also help you get a better nights rest. 
  3. Brush Your Teeth 30 Minutes After: It's a good idea to brush your teeth 30 minutes after drinking your cup of coffee, so that the polyphenols are removed more rapidly before they have a chance to adhere to the teeth. If you aren't going to be at home because you prefer to drink your coffee on the go or when you get to the office, at least rinse your mouth with water and drink plenty of water while at work to rinse away the residue left behind from coffee. 
  4. Drink With a Straw: Drinking coffee with a straw is another good way to avoid stains because it limits the amount of contact the coffee has with the teeth. In fact, you can purchase metal straws that can be used for hot coffee or you can go iced and easily drink with a plastic straw that way. 
  5. Teeth Whitening: Finally, you can stick with professional teeth whitening. Bear in mind that this is the best option only when you have those stains that eventually show up after the years of drinking coffee. The reason you want professional whitening is to ensure that the staining is actually removed with a much slimmer chance of complications. DIY teeth whitening solutions might not be best for deep, set in stains from coffee simply because it isn't as effective. 

These are just five ways you can fight the stains from coffee without actually having to give up on the drink. For further and more specific advice, it's always helpful to talk with your cosmetic dentist.


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