Normally people start their morning with a cup of strong coffee. Coffee lovers are abundant but the fact is coffee is very acidic and contains Tannins. Enamel is the hardest part of teeth it weakens due to acidic properties of coffee and leaves yellow stains on teeth.
Brush your teeth twice a day as instructed by your dentist. Rinse or brush after lunch if you had a cup of coffee, but do wait 30 minutes to brush. You can also use whitening toothpaste to help remove some of the coffee stains, but it should be used with care.
Over time, regular consumption of coffee stains teeth. This is why regular coffee drinkers often notice tooth discoloration and yellowing. Tannins are also found in other teeth-staining drinks like black tea and wine. In fact, many teas have nearly twice as many tannins as coffee!
It should be noted that the OVERALL BASE COLOUR of teeth is not significantly affected by external staining. If you feel your teeth are dark or yellow, quitting coffee won't help. The most effective way to whiten teeth is via professional grade teeth whitening or bleaching.
How Does Coffee Harm Your Teeth? Despite the health benefits, drinking too much coffee can leave a lasting mark on your smile. In fact, research shows it can increase your risk of cavities because it's acidic, which can erode your enamel. As your enamel becomes thinner, it can also lead to tooth sensitivity.
Does coffee stain teeth permanently? Happily, coffee stains on your teeth aren't permanent, and can be removed with a whitening toothpaste or a professional whitening treatment from your dentist or orthodontist. It's largely the tannins in coffee that cause teeth to discolour.
Poor oral hygiene – poor oral hygiene practices cause yellowing of your teeth; however, discoloration or yellowing may occur despite regular teeth cleaning. Smoking – this is one of the leading causes of the yellowing of teeth.
Eating and drinking certain items can cause a rapid change in tooth coloration, especially if you suddenly switch to consuming these products a lot. The biggest culprits are coffee, tea, wine, dark sodas, and starches like pasta.
Colour correction all starts with the colour wheel, where purple and yellow are complementary colours opposite each other on the colour wheel. Applying purple onto your teeth neutralises yellow undertones by cancelling them, giving your teeth a perceptively brighter shade of white.
The best way of removing dark or stubborn coffee stains is by visiting a dentist for professional tooth whitening. In-office teeth whitening treatment can lighten your teeth by several shades in just one visit.
“A professional cleaning really will erase those stains from your teeth. And then after we remove all the stains, we will add fluoride to your teeth, and the fluoride will make your teeth more slick and smooth so [coffee stains are less likely to stick to the enamel],” Tiffany Feger advises.
Apple cider vinegar has enough acidity to break down plaque build-up and bacteria to break down coffee stains. Just be mindful if you have sensitive teeth and to not use it too often as apple cider vinegar is quite acidic.
There are a number of ways that you can whiten your teeth if they are or have already yellowed; these are a mix of over-the-counter toothpastes, home whitening products or, in some cases, mechanical plaque removal by a dentist or hygienist.
Even with daily brushing, certain foods and drinks can cause stained teeth. For example, frequently drinking coffee, tea and wine can all lead to yellow teeth. In addition, even regular brushing cannot always combat yellow teeth caused by smoking cigarettes.
If your child is about 6-7 years old and their permanent teeth have started to erupt, you may notice that their permanent teeth look quite a bit more yellow than their baby teeth. Good news: this is normal.
First, adding milk or cream to your coffee doesn't reduce how many tannins are in it. In writing about tea and coffee, Colgate notes that it's the tannins in both beverages that stain teeth. Whether your coffee looks light or dark has little impact on how much it stains.
Drink plenty of water
Drinking water after drinking any potentially staining beverages — coffee, tea, colas, and red wine are the biggest culprits — can help you prevent the staining of your enamel. The water will act as a rinse and help to remove any staining substances from your teeth.
Baking soda is good for teeth whitening because it is a very mild abrasive, which helps remove stains from the surface of your teeth. In addition, baking soda is alkaline and salty, which helps lighten acid-based food stains – such as those from coffee, tea, and red wine – on teeth.
Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Although toothpastes and mouthwashes can never “rebuild” teeth, they can contribute to this remineralization process.
There is no sugar-coating this: yes, black coffee will stain your teeth. Coffee contains tannins, which are a type of polyphenol (these are micronutrients found in plant-based foods) that break down in water. Tannins cause colour compounds to stick to your teeth, which can leave an unwanted yellow colour behind.
You'll also want to drink your coffee in moderation – up to two cups a day is fine, provided that you already have a great oral hygiene routine. A cup of coffee is a great way to start the day, and thankfully, there's no reason why you should stop drinking coffee if you have a great oral hygiene regimen.