People drink approximately two billion cups of coffee around the world every day, and more than half of American adults drink this popular beverage daily. Whether it is hot, iced, or cold brew, many individuals consider coffee to be a staple in their routine.
However, coffee can negatively impact your oral health in a variety of ways. Brighter Smile Family Dentistry and Orthodontics, a dentist office in Sterling, VA, describes how you can keep your teeth healthy without giving up drinking coffee.
Prevent Teeth Staining
Coffee gets its dark color from substances called tannins. Tannins are attracted by enamel and leave stains on teeth surfaces. Typical teeth brushing regimens cannot remove this discoloration.
Drinking through a straw, adding milk to your drink, or selecting a lighter-colored brew can lower the chances of tooth discoloration from coffee, but they do not erase the risk completely. If you notice your teeth quickly becoming yellow or staining, talk to your dentist about professional teeth whitening treatment.
Skip Added Sugar
Coffee tastes bitter on its own, so many coffee drinkers add sugar to their cups to make it sweeter. However, sugar has many detrimental effects on your teeth because it reacts with bacteria in your mouth to become acidic.
This acid causes enamel to deteriorate, leaving teeth vulnerable to decay among other dental concerns. For this reason, dentists recommend avoiding added sugar wherever possible, including in your coffee.
Stay Hydrated
Many coffee enthusiasts enjoy the boost of caffeine that comes with a cup of coffee. But caffeine can dehydrate you if you are not careful, which can harm your smile.
Low hydration levels lead to lower saliva production, causing an unpleasant condition called dry mouth. This environment allows bacteria to spread more easily across your teeth, raising your risk of oral infections like gum disease. Dentists and other medical professionals recommend drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day to stay appropriately hydrated and avoid these oral health problems.