Effects of Coffee on Teeth

Coffee is the only thing that can get some people going in the morning, but do you really know what the drink is doing to your teeth?

Let’s start with the bad side effects of drinking coffee. Like other acidic drinks, coffee can be very rough on the teeth depending on the amount you drink. The tannic acid in coffee scrapes into the grooves of your tooth enamel and can deeply stain teeth. Many people who have been drinking coffee for years develop a yellowish stain on teeth that can be hard to get rid of without a serious whitening treatment.

However, even though most people will point to the negatives of drinking coffee when it comes to your teeth, a recent studyactually shows that drinking strong coffee can help your mouth in many ways. The study, conducted by  Rio de Janeiro’s Federal University, published in the journal of Applied Microbiology, looked at how an extract of Coffea canephora – known as robusta – effects milk teeth. Tests found that robusta can break down a thin film of bacteria on milk teeth. This led researchers to conclude that robusta can break down plaque, which causes tooth decay and gum disease. So, that strong cup of coffee you have every morning could actually be reducing plaque development and the need for fillings by destroying harmful bacteria in your mouth.

Even with the good news provided by this study about one type of strong coffee, it’s still important to consider the downsides of coffee drinking – especially if you are concerned with the cosmetic appearance of your teeth. After drinking coffee, take a few sips of water and swish them around your mouth to wash off the tannic acid. If possible, brush teeth shortly after drinking coffee to get rid of the acidity all together.

Have more questions about the effects of coffee on teeth? Or want to try teeth whitening to get rid of coffee stains? Contact the professionals at DentaLux today!