For many of us, it’s practically a daily ritual to start the morning off with a fresh cup of coffee. Coffee can affect your smile in a number of ways; our Saint Louis dentists are here to give you some tips and suggestions on how to consume coffee smartly. Keep reading to learn more!
The number one dental issue that patients associate with coffee is staining and discoloration. Over time, coffee leaves color deposits on the patient’s natural teeth. The discoloration may appear streaky or solid.
In many cases, this type of discoloration can be effectively addressed with professional dental whitening treatments. You can also minimize the risk of staining by using a straw to drink your coffee; the straw helps you bypass visible enamel.
It’s also a good idea to rinse your mouth with water after enjoying your coffee. When you rinse your smile, you clear away staining and acidic coffee remnants. You also prompt your body to release saliva, and saliva helps to naturally re-mineralize and strengthen teeth.
Another thing that you can do is to consume coffee mindfully. What do we mean by this? Generally speaking, it is best to drink your coffee in one, time-limited sitting, rather than sipping continuously throughout the day. Remember that the oral bacteria in your mouth can feed off of the sugars and creamers in coffee for a full twenty to thirty minutes after you stop eating or drinking. Don’t give the oral bacteria in your mouth even more chances to take over your smile!
Our Saint Louis dentists are here to give you any additional information or guidance that you need to improve your daily oral hygiene habits. One part of this may be switching up your coffee routine! Give us a call to schedule a personal consultation with our team.