Staining Effects Of Coffee, Tea, & Soda
You brush and floss, you visit your dentist routinely. But you may find that your teeth are no longer as pearly white as they once were. Even with great oral hygiene and healthcare, our teeth can become stained. The culprit is very often the beverages that we all enjoy on a daily basis. What can you do about the staining effects of coffee, tea, and soda?
Did you know that your morning cup of joe could be to blame for your teeth stains? Once you know more about the staining effects of these beverages, you just may want to avoid them.
THE STAINING EFFECTS OF COFFEE
Do you kick start your day with a hot cup of coffee? Like many of us, you may rely on that cup of coffee to get you going in the morning. You may reach for the coffee pot periodically throughout the day, to keep alert. Have you ever taken the time to wonder what coffee is doing to your teeth?
Take note, coffee lovers. Your love of java may be taking a toll on your dental health.
Coffee can leave stains on your furniture and on your clothes. Coffee contains an ingredient known as tannin. Tannins are also found in tea and wine. These ingredients can lead to color compounds in the beverage sticking to your teeth. When they stick to your teeth, they can leave an unsightly yellow stain behind. Even if you drink just one cup of coffee a day, you are at risk for staining on your teeth.
So, just how can you avoid discoloration on your teeth without giving up your cup of coffee?
- Start with professional cleanings. Your dental hygienist may be able to remove or reduce the signs of coffee stains during your biannual cleaning.
- You can also use whitening toothpastes and strips on a daily basis. If you brush your teeth after drinking coffee, it may help to reduce the stains on your teeth.
- Switching to an electric toothbrush from a manual toothbrush can offer more cleaning power when you brush twice a day.
Coffee can also be to blame for bad breath. Who hasn’t experienced coffee breath at one point or another? Drink plenty of water between cups of coffee, to help rinse your mouth and teeth.
Also keep in mind that coffee is fairly acidic. Acidic foods and drinks can lead to a weakening of the enamel on the tooth. This can result in staining, and ultimately in tooth decay. Drink and enjoy in moderation, and remember to keep brushing, flossing and using a quality mouth rinse.
THE STAINING EFFECTS OF TEA
Tea, like coffee, contains tannins. These tannins are what give it that dark color you love to see in your cup so much. The problem is that these same tannins do stick to your teeth and cause discoloration. Tea actually has higher concentrations of tannin. This does mean that it is even more likely to cause stains on your teeth.
Black, green and even your favorite herbal teas contain tannins. If tea is consumed in moderation, staining might not be as bad. However, if tea is consumed often, the staining can be quite harsh. If you drink black tea, you may want to consider switching to green and herbal teas. They do contain tannins, but in lesser quantities.
If you’re not ready to give up your tea, it’s important to take care of your teeth so you can keep staining to a minimum.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day can help. Ideally, you’ll want to brush your teeth after each cup of tea. If this isn’t possible, then a glass of water after your cup of tea can help to reduce the tannin that is remaining in your mouth.
THE STAINING EFFECTS OF SOFT DRINKS
It’s no secret that sugary soft drinks can be incredibly damaging for your teeth. Switching to sugar free soft drinks can help to reduce the amount of sugar that your teeth are exposed to. However, there is another concern with soft drinks. Carbonated sodas are incredibly acidic. Yes, even the sugar free sodas.
Sugary drinks can result in sugar clinging to your teeth. The bacteria naturally occurring in your mouth will feast on this sugar. They produce a byproduct that is very acidic. This same acidic byproduct attacks the enamel on your teeth, resulting in cavities.
All soft drinks, particularly darker colas, contain phosphoric acid. This ingredient is damaging to the enamel on the teeth, and can lead to erosion. This same erosion can result in other concerns, including sensitivity to temperature variations. Damage to the enamel makes it more likely that the teeth will stain.
Dark sodas contain a dye that can also stain your teeth. The acidity of the soda results in teeth being incredibly vulnerable to staining.
The sugar content, acid and dyes in soda make them particularly bad for your teeth. They can potentially result in extreme discoloration on your teeth if consumed with regularity.
If you have staining on your teeth after a heavy soda habit, there are solutions to help whiten your teeth. This could include whitening toothpastes and strips. Your dentist also offers professional whitening treatments that can restore your pearly whites.
THE STAINING EFFECTS OF WINE, AND FOODS
It’s not just coffee, tea and soft drinks that can stain your teeth. Red wine and certain foods can also stain your teeth. Brushing your teeth before enjoying a glass of wine can actually make a difference. This is because the tannins in the red wine may otherwise cling to the plaque that is on your teeth.
Drinking sparkling water between each glass of red wine can help to keep those stains at bay.
Berries, tomatoes and pasta sauces and other dark fruits can stain your teeth. Are you a smoker? You may be aware that the tar and the nicotine in cigarettes can stain your teeth. Smoking can lead to yellowing on the teeth in a relatively short period of time. Those who have smoked for decades often have severe stains on their teeth that can only be disguised with veneers or crowns.
Are you looking to restore your beautiful white smile? Your dentist can offer solutions that will restore your pearly whites, and give you plenty of reason to laugh and smile.
Do you think your smile needs to be brightened? Contact us today!
