Coffee is an aromatic and delicious beverage that millions of people from different parts of the world start their day with. But drinking it comes at a price. Just like red wine and tea, coffee stains teeth. Having a yellowed or stained tooth can hurt your confidence, and make it difficult for you to interact with new people. Reports have shown that 18% of people hide their teeth in photos because they don’t want others to see how stained their teeth are.
See, you don’t have to give up on your favorite beverage just because you have teeth stain, as there are several natural tips that can help reduce coffee stains and whiten your teeth. We are going to look at some of them in this article.
One thing you must keep in mind, though, is that brushing your teeth and flossing regularly, as well as, adding milk to your coffee will only take you as far, but won’t fully solve the problem, especially if your teeth are severely stained.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of this article, we will first look at how coffee stains our teeth.
The teeth are a complex part of our body that is made of several layers. The outermost layer, which is the Enamel, is the most mineralized substance in our body. It helps shield or protect the delicate layers below it.
Just like our skin, the enamel is covered in pores or microscopic holes. These holes can be clogged and stained by food and drinks. This process is known as extrinsic staining. If you don’t clean your teeth regularly or brush your teeth after drinking coffee, chocolate, and wine, the layer below will be stained. This is known as intrinsic staining. As you likely guessed, intrinsic staining is a lot harder to clean. And that is why you must brush your teeth regularly after drinking anything that can potentially stain your teeth.
But what exactly is in coffee that stains our teeth? Well, the simple answer is a substance called tannins. Tannins is a type of polyphenol that is found in coffee and other beverages like tea and wine. This substance makes colored compounds to stick to your teeth. When these compounds eventually stick, they leave a yellow hue behind.
One thing you should keep in mind is that you don’t have to drink several cups of coffee each day to have teeth stain. Drinking a single cup each day is enough to ruin your perfectly white teeth.
Another reason why coffee stains our teeth is that it is very acidic. Consuming it regularly weakens the uppermost layer of the teeth, the enamel. As it slowly wears away, the dentin layer which has a yellow appearance is exposed.
See, you don’t have to splash a lot of money on expensive teeth whitening products to get rid of coffee stains, as there are super easy things you can do to make your teeth whiter.
Below are a few of them.
Dietary changes
Don’t consume food and beverages that contain tannins regularly. However, if you must consume them daily, then you should brush your teeth 30 minutes after you do. You are probably wondering why you have to wait for 30 minutes to brush your teeth. Well, the reason is that coffee contains acid that wears the enamel. If you brush too soon you may damage your teeth.
Oil pulling
This is a term used to describe washing the mouth with oil to remove harmful bacteria, dirt, and debris. Although it is not a substitute for regular brushing, some research has shown that washing the mouth with oil can help whiten the teeth. Here is how to get rid of coffee stains through oil pulling – rinse your mouth with oil for 60 seconds and spit it out.
Below are some oils you can use:
Teeth whitening fruit
Certain fruits are rich in special compounds and enzymes that can help whiten your teeth. Pineapples and papayas are good examples of them. Consuming them regularly will go a long way in helping your teeth become whiter.
A study that was conducted in 2012, showed just how effective these fruits are, having elements with teeth whitening properties.
Methods that don’t work and can harm your teeth.
The internet is loaded with a lot of information on natural teeth whitening tips that can help reduce coffee stains. While some are great and have worked wonders, others are ineffective and can do serious damage to your teeth.
Below are some natural teeth whitening strategies that offer little or no results. Some may even damage your teeth:
Is it possible to eliminate coffee stains from your teeth without seeing a dentist? The answer to that question is a resounding Yes, as there are lots of stain removing tips and products you can use at the comfort of your home. Read on to learn about them.
Hydrogen Peroxide
This is a natural bleaching agent that has been used for years to disinfect wounds. What most people don’t know is that it can also be used to whiten the teeth. In fact, most commercial whitening products on the market contain hydrogen peroxide.
A study that was conducted recently showed that toothpaste that contains 1 percent of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can whiten the teeth better and faster than others without them.
Another study found that brushing with toothpaste that contains hydrogen peroxide and baking soda twice a day can lead to much whiter teeth in little as six weeks.
How to use hydrogen peroxide
The best way to use hydrogen peroxide is as a mouth wash. But make sure you dilute the concentration to 1.5 percent before using it. You can do this simply by adding water to the solution. And please don’t use it every day as it can erode your tooth enamel.
Baking soda
The reason why baking soda is one of the ingredients in toothpaste on the market is that it has teeth whitening properties.
A study found that toothpaste with baking soda was significantly more effective at removing stains than the ones without it.
Here is how to get of coffee stains off teeth using baking soda:
Apple Cider Vinegar
This has been used for hundreds of years as natural cleaning products and disinfectants. Acetic acid, which is present in apple vinegar, can eliminate harmful bacteria.
A study performed on cow teeth showed that apple cider vinegar has bleaching properties. The study also found that acetic acid in vinegar can erode the enamel. For this reason, you shouldn’t use it every day.
Here is how to clean coffee stains from teeth using apple cider vinegar:
Oral hygiene
This is one easy thing you can do to eliminate coffee stains and reduce tooth yellowing. Brushing and flossing a lot helps to prevent gum decay and protects the enamel.
Good oral hygiene includes the following:
Preventing coffee stains
The best way to drink coffee without the risk of it staining your teeth is to drink it through a straw. This keeps it from touching and potentially staining your teeth.
Here is good news to all the coffee drinkers out there- coffee stains can be removed. So, if you have a yellowed or stained tooth, you shouldn’t be overly worried, as it isn’t usually an indication of health problems. You can choose to use any of the natural remedies discussed in the article or visit a dentist. Whichever route you take; your teeth are going to become whiter.
