Coffee is one of the most popular beverages on Earth. While the nations of the world celebrate it on various days throughout the year, National Coffee Day is September 29 in America and Canada. Coffee shops in the United States have grown into a $45.4 billion industry, and dry coffee sales exceeded $9 billion in 2017. However, coffee can cause some mischief to your dental health if you’re not careful. Here are some tips from your dentist so you can celebrate National Coffee Day safely whether you take yours with sweetener, cream, or anything else.
That Rich Brown Color Is Better in Your Cup Than in Your Smile
The enamel layer of your teeth has microscopic pits and ridges across its surface, and the pigments that give coffee its color can get stuck in them. If someone drinks coffee frequently over a long period of time, it can cause unsightly yellow stains on their teeth. While the simplest way to avoid this problem is to drop the coffee habit, this is often much more easily said than done.
Too Much Coffee Can Harm Your Teeth
Part of why people love coffee so much is that it helps wake you up. In addition to being a mild stimulant, caffeine also has a slight dehydrating effect that can interrupt saliva flow and cause dry mouth. Saliva is a crucial part of the mouth’s natural cleaning process because it helps dilute and neutralize acid, wash away food debris, and control bacterial populations. It also protects teeth from injury by keeping them lubricated.
Insufficient saliva flow allows bacteria to grow more rapidly and stay on the teeth longer. These bacteria excrete acid as a metabolic byproduct, and acid is one of the worst things for your teeth. Since coffee is mildly acidic itself, your oral environment can become rather harsh on your teeth’s enamel when you drink it. To make matters worse, insufficient saliva flow can leave food debris in your mouth with the growing bacteria, and together they can cause an unpleasant odor commonly known as “coffee breath.”
What Can I Do to Keep My Teeth Healthy While Drinking Coffee?
You don’t have to give up coffee to keep your smile healthy. Here are a few tips that can help keep your coffee habit stainless:
- Don’t let coffee become your main source of hydration. Instead, enjoy it at breakfast or during your lunch break.
- Drink water while and after you drink your coffee. Staying hydrated will help wash your teeth clean and stimulate saliva flow.
- Rinse your mouth after drinking coffee and maybe follow that up by brushing your teeth.
- Drink coffee through a straw to avoid getting it on your teeth.
- The soft but tough fiber in raw crunchy fruits and veggies like carrots, celery, apples, and cucumber can safely help buff your teeth clean. Snack on some crisp produce throughout the day.
- Practice excellent daily oral hygiene at home by brushing at least twice, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash.
- Keep up with your regular dental appointments. Consider a professional whitening treatment from your dentist if stains become a concern.
If you drink coffee, be sure to have a nice cup on September 29. Just remember your dentist’s advice when you fill your mug.
About the Practice
Premier Dental provides the best dental care available in Vero Beach, FL. Led by Drs. Adam Jones and Giuliana Diaz Jones, the staff is dedicated to keeping patients’ smiles healthy and beautiful for life. Services include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on drinking coffee the teeth-friendly way, contact the office online or dial (772) 234-5353.