Do you have a coffee stain on any of your shirt?? You were not able to clean it completely, right? Imagine how much effect its daily consumption would have on our oral health.
COFFEE STAINS
One of the main ingredients of coffee, tannin, is a type of polyphenol, which sticks on the teeth as the tooth surface is never smooth and contains microscopic ridges and pits, imparting an unwanted yellow hue to the teeth.
TOOTH EROSION
Coffee has a tendency to produce acid that may erode the uppermost layer of tooth, i.e. enamel, which is responsible for imparting color to the tooth and protect the tooth.
BAD BREATH / HALITOSIS
Coffee do sticks to the tongue, posing a problem of bad breath.
PROMOTING BACTERIAL GROWTH
Coffee tends to decrease salivary flow in the oral cavity that may permit more growth of micro-organism causing degradation and the decaying of the enamel in the teeth.
DENTAL CARIES
Increased coffee intake increases the consumption of sugar too which can also lead to tooth decay. Bacteria in the oral cavity react with sugar to form acid, which degrades enamel. The more sugar you consume, the stronger and more frequent these acid attacks become.
Prevention is better than Cure
- Make sure you brush at least twice a day for two minutes.
- Drinking lots of water so as to rinse any deposition on tooth surface.
- Eating vegetables like carrots and celery after a cup of coffee will help in reducing tooth discoloration and freshening up the breath.
- Use a tongue scraper along with brushing.
- Use ADA approved tooth whitening toothpastes regularly.
- You need to talk to your dentist about getting oral prophylaxis and tooth whitening procedures.
- Use and electric toothbrush, which provides more cleaning power.
