The general rule is, if it can stain your clothes - it can satin your teeth. So yes, your favourite morning ‘pick-me-up’ might bring your smile down a notch or two.
We love coffee, as our friends, the Baristas at Casa Dolce, Est Espresso, Da Giacomo and Ginger Fox will agree. It’s no surprise then that we also have trouble battling coffee stains. Here are 5 things you can do to help keep your teeth clean and stain free:
1) Drink it with full cream milk, and no, is not because milk is white!
The fats help milk proteins bind to the tannins (polyphenols) that start the staining process. When full cream milk is used there are less free tannins available to stick to teeth. BUT, this only work with animal fats – sorry soy and almond milk drinkers.
2) Decrease contact of the coffee with your teeth.
The easiest way to do this is switch to an espresso, or (far less glamourous) use a straw. Rinsing with water straight after will help combat coffee breath (the other unwanted side effect) but there’s limited evidence that it will reduce staining.
3) Brush, floss, rinse & switch to no sugar. Zero sugar, brushing twice a day, flossing daily and rinsing with water after drinking and eating will help to keep stains and cavity causing bacteria at bay.
4) Professional dental hygiene cleans will give you back a stain free smile. Most people will benefit from a clean every 6 month but if you seem to collect staining more quickly, you may need to look after yourself with a 4 monthly clean.
5) Sometimes, after stains are removed natural teeth colour is not as bright and white as we might like. If you want to achieve a whiter and brighter smile teeth whitening might be the answer. Check with your dental professional if you’re a suitable candidate for teeth whitening.
So to all the coffee lovers, keep smiling! You don’t have to give up your coffee, just take up a few health habits and don’t let staining bring down your smile.