Does Coffee, Tea, Pop and Wine Stain Your Teeth?
Canadians consumed 3.9 million 60kg bags of coffee in 2019. It’s safe to say most adults enjoy their morning coffee. Some have one in the afternoon, and another in the evening. If you are a coffee lover, in time, if unchecked, your teeth can get stained coffee color. Tea can also smite your teeth with unwanted coloring. 31% of Canadians admit to having 2-3 cups of tea each day. A conservative total would be 28 million cups of tea consumed by Canucks in 2019. Despite the health benefits of tea, it doesn’t help whiten your teeth, and the darker the brew the worse it is. Teeth stains don’t necessarily have an effect of the health of your teeth, but it can make a person self conscious and avoid close interactions and photos.
Other popular drinks know to stain teeth are pop and wine. Did you know that in 2019 Canadians drank over 2 billion liters of pop and 631.5 million liters of wine in 2019! Between coffee, tea, pop, and wine a huge market is created for tooth whitening.
How do Stains Happen?
Stains occur when tannins build up on tooth enamel. Tannins are naturally occurring elements found in plants like, coffee beans, tea leaves, coca, citrus fruit, and grapes. These colored tannins add flavor to their perspective drink and are therefore necessary. Unfortunately, enamel no matter how dense absorbs them over time. The more they splash and swish around and in between your teeth, the more prone they are to stain. So, if abstinence or even rationing is not an option, what can be done to protect your teeth from stains? And further, how do you remove existing stains?
Avoid Staining with Diligence
Being diligent and consistent with brushing and flossing is the best way to keep your teeth white naturally. Keep a toothbrush and tooth paste at work or school and try and brush after having a drink you know can stain. Don’t underestimate the benefits of rinsing if brushing is not a convenient option. Rinsing with water dilutes concentrated tannins and significantly reduces their power to leave their mark.
When it comes to coffee and tea, there are a few preventative things you can do. Use milk or cream as a tannin diluter. Milk can brighten up your coffee or tea and reduce their staining ability. With tea, try steeping for less time, and at the drive-through, take the tea bag out rather than leaving it to concentrate on your teeth.
How to Remove Stains from Teeth
There are several products out there that can have significant whitening abilities. White strips can improve your teeth’s appearance in as little as 3 days. There are whitening products for sensitive teeth that work more gradually. And there are a multitude of whitening toothpastes products with varying effects. Your dentist can also provide a whitening service that has proven to have great whitening results with many clients. Ask us about whitening solutions?
At Erbsville Dental “We combine cutting edge equipment with a traditional approach to dental care.” That includes a preventative path to consistent beautiful looking teeth via good habits, knowledge, and personal dental support.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Accordingly, always seek the advice of your Dentist or other healthcare providers regarding a dental condition or treatment.
