Coffee is a popular energy booster in the morning that many people need to get through the day, but regular coffee consumption causes stains that are hard to eliminate. So, how to get rid of coffee stains on teeth?
Coffee stains might either leave an overall dark layer or a few isolated brown or black stain specks on your teeth. They will appear most visible on the closest teeth: the front ones, where you sip coffee from your cup.
There are multiple easy ways to take care of your oral health at home. This article will help you be less self-conscious about yellow teeth while not having to give up on your favorite morning beverage.
How Does Coffee Stain Your Teeth?
Naturally, human teeth are porous as they are home to nerve tissues in thousands of “tubules,” tiny little holes. As we consume foods and drinks, these holes will slowly collect stains and bacteria.
Due to the easy flow of liquids anywhere inside your mouth, they are likely to cause tooth stains more than the act of chewing. Darker foods like coffee mean more stains, and stains lead to yellow teeth.
There is a highlighted ingredient in coffee that you should care about: tannin. It is a plant-based polyphenol compound that sticks stains to your teeth and tends to leave an undesired yellow hue after.
How To Get Rid Of Coffee Stains On Teeth?
Not everyone can visit a dental hygienist once or twice a year to solve their tooth stain issue. You will want to consult other useful remedies that you can apply right at home for visible results.
Regular Teeth Brushing
The easiest method is to brush your teeth on a more regular basis with the correct technique. It is best to brush your teeth twice a day and spend 2 quality minutes each time.
Focus on a gentle circular motion to brush your teeth so your gums are protected in this process. Make sure you do not miss any cracks and crevices. Take care both of the inside and outside of your teeth.
Brush after food and drink consumption, especially those that tend to cause stains on teeth (discussed further below). Ideally, brush 30 minutes after taking coffee and rinse your mouth with water in advance.
Nonetheless, it is not wise to brush your teeth right after acidic food and drink consumption. You may accidentally make way for the acids to get rid of more enamel and result in quick teeth erosion afterward.
Rather than a manual toothbrush, it is better to switch to an electric unit. Its cleaning power is much more powerful with added strokes to clean your teeth and enable effective stain removal on the surface.
Whitening Toothpaste And Strips
You will find a wide range of ADA-approved oral care products in supermarkets and convenience stores, such as whitening strips and toothpaste. It has been scientifically proven to brighten your teeth.
There are mild abrasives inside such a whitening toothpaste so that it can remove coffee stains from your teeth surface by scrubbing gently. It is good to know that these substances are all safe.
In terms of whitening strips, they consist of a moderate bleaching gel amount to slowly brighten coffee-stained teeth. They also help level up your smile by treating internal stains on your teeth to a certain extent.
Mix Baking Soda With Hydrogen Peroxide
The fantastic combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is a popular way on how to eliminate coffee stains on teeth. Because this mixture gets rid of bacteria and plaque buildup, it will remove stains.
You can make a good paste by taking a small baking soda amount and mixing it with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. This same ingredient ratio applies to the process of making a mouthwash.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another ideal application in a small amount for teeth whitening is apple cider vinegar. Add 2 apple cider vinegar tablespoons into 6 oz of water, start swishing in 30 seconds for a mouthwash before you brush.
Keep in mind that vinegar has a potential risk of causing damages to your tooth surface structure and hardness. That is why you should apply it with caution and only in a short period.
Coconut Oil Pulling
Bacteria tend to gather and build upon your teeth after eating or drinking, especially acidic types of food. How to remove coffee stains on your teeth then? Coconut oil pulling can get rid of bacteria and plague, as well as balance acids in your mouth.
Take 1 or 2 small teaspoons of coconut oil in liquid form and swish it in your mouth from at least 10 minutes to half an hour. Do not let it touch your throat to avoid swallowing bacteria and toxins from your mouth.
This helpful antibacterial agent will be a perfect home remedy for stain removal and whitening your teeth. Remember to select organic oil that is high-quality and does not include any dangerous ingredients.
Activated Charcoal
A highly absorbent ingredient of activated charcoal powder can deal with coffee stains and pigments covering your tooth surfaces. There is toothpaste with activated charcoal that ensures whitening teeth.
Put activated charcoal on your toothbrush and start brushing your teeth gently for around 2 minutes in small circular motions. Be careful with the surrounding of your gums to avoid risks of abrasion.
If you have sensitive teeth or want to reduce charcoal’s abrasiveness, it is suggested to dab this content on your teeth. Leave it there for 2 minutes before spitting out and rinse your mouth with water.
Get Professional Care
Can the dentist remove coffee stains? No matter how many methods you may try at home, getting help from experts is always the wisest decision. It is suggested to set regular teeth cleaning schedules with your favorite dentist.
Dental hygienists often own an electric-powered tool for polishing so they can clear out tooth stains after a few seconds. Sometimes, they might use an air polisher with washing powder to whiten your teeth.
Which Other Types Of Food Cause Yellow Teeth?
There are various other types of food and drink that you have been consuming regularly without being aware of their long-term effects on your oral health. The following list includes popular examples.
- Tea also has tannin that causes staining like coffee. You want to know that adding milk to tea is likely to make things worse.
- There is an acid in cola, and unfortunately, it tends to erode your teeth. This substance will result in tooth stains over time.
- One of the most elegant types of alcohol – red wine, is among the common causes of stain on your teeth.
- Another hard-to-believe culprit for tooth stain is blueberries, though they are delicious to munch on.
- You can easily get tooth stains from eating tomatoes and sauces with a tomato base because of their deep coloring. Curry is another example of how color pigmentation can cause stains.
- Certain fruit juices (grape, blueberry, and cranberry juices) may also leave you with yellow teeth in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions Of How To Get Rid Of Coffee Stains On Teeth
1. Does Adding Cream To Your Coffee Cause Less Stain?
Some people assume that creamy coffee leaves less stain on your teeth. The truth is a coffee can stain your teeth badly, and adding cream or milk to your drink does not make that much of a difference.
Undeniably, having creams and flavors is likely to make your coffee fatter and less healthy. These sweeteners contribute to your risk of getting tooth decay and gaining weight. So it is better to drink black coffee.
2. What Does Coffee Have To Do With Bad Breath?
Whenever you eat something, there will be leftover residue in your mouth that enables the natural flora to create your oral biology. Drinking coffee changes your breath by leaving a lingering aftertaste. If there are sweeteners in your coffee, bacteria feed on this sugar.
Plaque biofilm occurs when you drink coffee as the production of bacterial waste. Make sure you clean out your mouth well enough after drinking coffee to avoid having bad breath.
Bottom Line
Caffeine is a serious dose of doping that we all love in our morning routine, but we cannot deny that it has a side effect of tooth stains.
Luckily, there are various methods for you to learn how to get rid of coffee stains on teeth and practice at home to whiten your smile. Remember to visit the dentist regularly for a quick stain cleaning as well.
Thank you for reading.
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Almost 20 years already spent committed to coffee and more than 3 years of experience as a barista at Starbucks. Madelyn Doyle graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science from the University of California and finished the Coffee Skills Program at the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).