Coffee, like any drink other than water, increases your risk of developing cavities. Because it introduces bacteria and acids into your mouth, coffee can also erode tooth enamel causing sensitivity and brittle teeth over time.
While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the beverages that contain that caffeine can be extremely harmful for your teeth. The biggest offenders are coffee, tea, and soda. The acidic content wears down your enamel, and the sugar that is in soda and that is often added to coffee and tea can cause cavities.
Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey.
Try non-acidic foods: Certain foods are good for your enamel. Many types of fruits and vegetables, dairy products such as milk, and foods or drinks containing fluoride – notably spinach, grapes and black tea – will be useful to naturally restore enamel.
Coffee, like any drink other than water, increases your risk of developing cavities. Because it introduces bacteria and acids into your mouth, coffee can also erode tooth enamel causing sensitivity and brittle teeth over time.
But you could be damaging the enamel on your teeth, especially if what you are consuming is acidic like coffee. Acid will weaken your enamel, which can increase your chances of cavities or tooth decay, so you should wait 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating or drinking.
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!
A mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. As an oxidizer, hydrogen peroxide stimulates the enamel to give up the coffee particles that cause stains on the teeth. Baking soda, on the other hand, increases this reaction. To make the mixture, add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in a clean empty container.
Opt for Decaf or Cold Brew
If possible, drink decaf coffee. Since it contains less caffeine, it's less likely to stain your teeth. If you're not a fan of decaf but would like to prevent stains, you can brew your coffee cold. While cold brewing may take longer, it can effectively prevent coffee stains.
How does coffee stain teeth? The big culprits are tannins, and they are commonly found in drinks like coffee. Tannins are a type of polyphenol that breaks down in the water. Tannins release coloured products that stick to rough surfaces on your teeth, causing yellow or brown discolouration.
A study in The International Journal of Dental Hygiene found that the casein in milk attaches to tannins and helps prevent tea from staining. As the same compound causes stains from coffee, adding milk can likely help protect teeth from all caffeinated beverages.
Coffee is acidic, which can lead to the erosion of tooth enamel. Coffee also is known to stain teeth. We don't want either of these things to happen, but dental experts agree that brushing BEFORE you drink coffee is better than after.
The germs and bacteria inside your mouth multiply during the night. When you drink water in the morning before brushing, it will clean out your mouth and make tooth-brushing more effective. When you make a habit of drinking water before brushing, you will notice your immunity becoming more robust.
Treatment of tooth enamel loss depends on your individual needs. Your dentist may recommend tooth bonding (filling the damaged areas with tooth-colored resins) to protect the tooth and improve its appearance. If the enamel loss is more severe, a crown may be necessary to protect the tooth from further decay.
As the enamel continues to erode, your teeth might turn a gray or yellowish color. If your teeth change shape, it's a good indicator that you have enamel damage. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial.
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.
It could be the result of an acidic diet, medication side reactions or just vigorous brushing. Dry mouth, low salivary flow, diet high in sugar and starches, bruxism and friction, acid reflux disease, gastrointestinal problems and even genetics could also be blamed for enamel erosion.
Toothpastes for Enamel Protection
Help guard against the daily effects of acid erosion with Sensodyne's line of toothpastes specially formulated for enamel protection. Our Pronamel range strengthens and rehardens weakened enamel for ongoing protection against acid wear.
If your teeth have already thinned, there are a few treatments that help restore the enamel. Dental bonding, a treatment that involves the application of a composite resin to your teeth, is one option. Veneers are another option for those who are interested.
Tannins, a naturally occurring chemical found in many foods and beverages, causes coffee stains. These tannins have an astringent flavor that you might enjoy in your morning latte, but most of us could do without the stains they leave behind. Even a single cup of coffee each day can discolor your tooth enamel.