A good cup of coffee is one of life’s greatest pleasures. The rich aroma and bold flavour, not to mention the caffeine, awakens your senses and gives you the perfect start to your morning. However, coffee is also one of the most common causes of tooth stains and it can take only a single cup to make them appear.
Tooth discolouration can dampen your beautiful smile, and stains can become permanent if not treated within the first few years of appearing. There’s no need to worry, Skills Training College, providers of the best barista courses on the Gold Coast, are here with their advice on how you can continue relishing your daily coffee while keeping your teeth sparkling and pearly white.
Why Do Teeth Stains Happen?
Our teeth are covered in enamel, the hardest substance in the human body, and this is what gives them their white colour. Tooth enamel is covered in tiny pores which the tannins in coffee can seep through to stain your teeth. Coffee is also acidic, meaning it can wear enamel away over time leading not only to greater stains but also potentially damaging your teeth.
There are various other causes of tooth discolouration beyond coffee. Some are unfortunately unavoidable, such as the natural wearing of enamel through ageing, or certain medical conditions such as liver or celiac disease. Other causes are preventable, such as smoking and oral hygiene habits. The colour of a tooth stain can help you determine the cause:
- Yellow stains are caused by dark foods or beverages, such as coffee or tea.
- Brown stains are caused by smoking.
- Purple stains are caused by wine.
- Black stains are a sign of tooth decay.
- Grey colouration is a sign the tooth is dead or dying.
Removing Coffee Stains
Fortunately, there are plenty of professionally recognised options available for removing coffee stains. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best option for your particular needs. Here are just a few:
1. Whitening Toothpaste: Brushing with toothpaste specifically formulated to whiten teeth helps lift stains over time.
2.Whitening Strips: Convenient, available at most pharmacies, and easy to use, regularly applying whitening strips can lead to the gradual tooth stain removal.
3. Dental Cleanings: Your dentist can perform a simple cleaning procedure to whiten your teeth and remove any stains. Often they will do so during regular checkups, which should be at least every six months.
4. Advanced Dental Whitening Treatments: For more stubborn or extreme stains, some dentists offer advanced techniques like laser or light-based therapies.
Finally, brushing with toothpaste containing activated charcoal has been proven to remove surface level tooth stains. However, its effectiveness at removing deeper stains, such as those caused by coffee, is less conclusive.
Home Remedies
In addition to the above professional options, there is also a range of home based treatments for tooth stain removal. These are likely to be less expensive, but also not as guaranteed to work. Nonetheless, many people have found success using methods involving ordinary household products. They come with no risk, so before seeking professional stain removal, consider trying one of the following:
1. Baking Soda: Mixing a tablespoon of baking soda with an equal amount of water creates a paste you can brush with to whiten your teeth. This whitening only occurs at surface level, so rather than removing coffee stains it can only cover them up at best.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide: Most often found at home as an antiseptic liquid, when two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide are mixed with one of baking soda, it also creates a tooth whitening paste. Mixing in some water creates a whitening mouthwash.
3. Citric Acid: Citric acid possesses natural bleaching properties which can whiten teeth and cover up coffee stains. Many have reported experiencing tooth whitening from eating lemons or oranges, or simply rubbing the rinds against their teeth. However, too much citric acid can wear away your enamel, and so this practice is best utilised occasionally if at all.
4. Oil Pulling: Swishing one to two tablespoons of sesame oil in your mouth for between 15 and 20 minutes each day can whiten your teeth, covering up coffee stains. This practice also improves oral health by removing plaque and bacteria. Some have reported similar benefits using sunflower or coconut oil.
Preventing Coffee Stains
Prevention is always better than cure for all things, and coffee teeth stains are no exception. If you’re a big coffee drinker with perfect teeth, here are the best methods to keep them that way:
- Good Oral Hygiene: Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, rinsing with mouthwash, and flossing keeps your teeth in top condition and can prevent coffee stains from occurring.
- Fluoride Toothpaste: Brushing with toothpaste high in fluoride strengthens your enamel making it harder for coffee stains to occur. However, using too much can lead to fluorosis - the appearance of white spots on your teeth.
- Rinse Immediately: Wash your mouth out with water as soon as you can after a coffee to prevent the tannins from settling into your teeth.
- Drink Through a Straw: As uncommon as it is to see someone drink coffee with a straw, doing so minimises its contact with your teeth meaning stains have a lower chance of occuring.
- Chew Gum: Chewing gum stimulates saliva flow, naturally rinsing coffee and its tannins from your teeth. Sugarless gum provides the best effect.
- Add Milk or Cream: Casein is a protein in dairy products which attaches to tannins, keeping them from getting into your teeth. Switching from black coffees to white can make a world of difference. The better the cup, the less likely stains will occur, so consider taking a coffee making course.
- Moderation: If you’re a big coffee drinker you're more likely for stains to appear. Cutting back to a single cup a day can help prevent stains and is also better for your overall health.
Keep Your Beautiful Smile
As annoying as coffee stains are, they are easily manageable if responded to quickly and just as preventable. With so many options for treating stains, you’re sure to find one that works for you, even if it takes a little bit of trial and error. All it takes is some proper and timely care and you can continue to enjoy your daily coffee without worrying about unsightly discoloration on your teeth ruining your smile.