Coffee’s effect on white teeth
The number one morning drink in the country is coffee. Many people who drink it worry about the effects that coffee has on white teeth. There is only a couple of dangers to drinking coffee including the caffeine that it contains and the staining that occurs from drinking it. Because it is an acidic drink the more you drink the more acidic the mouth becomes. When this happens calcium and phosphate are pulled directly away from the enamel which causes the teeth to become weak in structure.
Although your mouth can repair the damage of calcium and phosphate being removed from your teeth, it requires some work and time. The mouth must have more alkaline in order to start rebuilding the enamel through your saliva. This process become extremely difficult when you consider how much soda and coffee the average person ingests. The more acidic the drink, the more alkaline your mouth needs to create the saliva that is needed to repair it. This can also create a more serious problem called acid reflux. Many times the esophagus becomes irritated from the acidic fluids causing it to develop lesions. It takes serious medical attention to correct this condition; all from drinking coffee. This condition can be serious if not cared for and can sometimes feel as though you are having a heart attack.
Caffeine is also found in coffee which interferes with the production of saliva. This causes a dry mouth which can cause tooth decay. There is hope for those who are addicted to caffeine though. It has been proven that drinking a glass of water along with your coffee greatly reduces the risk of tooth decay. The water replenishes the fluid that is drawn out of the mouth by the caffeine. Caffeine is also the problem with stained teeth. This is because the entire mouth is immersed in the hot liquids and causes staining primarily on the top and bottom front teeth. You can reduce staining by drinking iced coffee or tea and sipping it through a straw. This way the liquid bypasses the front teeth staining only the back of the front teeth and the molars.
Many people drink coffee all day never rinsing with water or brushing until the end of the day, by which time, the damage is already occurring. If you must drink it throughout the day, rinse your mouth between cups. You could also spend less time drinking coffee by substituting a glass of water for a cup of coffee. Water is good at making you feel full while coffee does nothing for an empty stomach other than creating acid in the stomach which can cause acid reflux. There is a of damage that can be done by drinking too much coffee. Staining of the teeth can be lessened by using a whitening toothpaste at least twice a day while other damage may take more care than this. Specialised toothpastes can sometimes repair some of the enamel damage and it can also help prevent tooth decay.