Celebrate National Coffee Day: Remove Coffee Stains With Teeth Whitening!

Who doesn’t love coffee? National Coffee Day is on September 29th and it’s the perfect time to celebrate with a cup of joe! Studies show that half of American adults have at least one cup of coffee per day, making it the most popular beverage in the country (besides water, of course)! However, a coffee habit does have its drawbacks. Drinking coffee can cause the buildup of yellow stains on your teeth. If you’re a coffee drinker, here are a few things you should know about this beloved caffeinated beverage and your teeth: 

Why Does Coffee Stain My Teeth?

Coffee is rich in a type of polyphenol called “tannins.” Tannins are partially responsible for both the flavor and deep, dark brown color of coffee. However, these compounds also have a tendency to stick to our teeth. Tooth enamel is filled with millions of tiny pores, and when we drink coffee, tannins get stuck in them and stain our teeth. Tannins can also get stuck to plaque (which is normally clear), which can cause brownish stains. Stains on plaque can be easily cleaned awat and do not require any kind of special whitening treatment. Enamel stains will need to be treated with a whitening procedure.

How Does Teeth Whitening Reverse Coffee Stains?

Teeth whitening treatments use peroxides (such as carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide) to destroy organic stains on your teeth. Peroxides contain highly-volatile oxygen molecules, which break the chemical bonds that hold stains onto your enamel. By breaking these bonds, teeth whitening “bleaches” the stain away and restores the natural, white color of your enamel. 

How Can I Prevent Teeth Stains From Drinking Coffee?

There are a few things you can do to prevent stains while drinking coffee:

• Consider drinking your coffee through a straw. This prevents them from contacting your teeth, which means that the staining compounds won’t get stuck in your enamel.
• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water after drinking coffee. Then, brush your teeth about 15-30 minutes later. Avoid brushing immediately after drinking coffee. Since coffee is acidic, brushing right away can damage your enamel.
• Use a whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. 
• Avoid using charcoal toothpaste. This toothpaste does not whiten the teeth, and since it is highly abrasive, it can damage your enamel permanently. 

Celebrate National Coffee Day With A Whiter Smile At Southington Dentistry

Tooth stains are an unfortunate side effect of drinking coffee. But they’re not permanent. With teeth whitening from Dr. Neil Salesky, you can remove coffee stains from your teeth and get a bright, beautiful smile. To learn more and get started, schedule a consultation at (860) 628-5029, or visit our office in-person at 15 Cornerstone Ct #3a, Plantsville, CT 06479.