Many of us rely on tea and coffee every morning to wake up and feel more alert. Unfortunately, these beverages can also cause yellowing and discoloration over time that can make you feel shy and self-conscious about your smile. If you enjoy drinking tea and coffee, know there are professional dental treatments available that can keep your teeth looking white, clean, and sparkling without having to sacrifice your daily caffeine intake.
Here are ways to prevent and remove tea and coffee stains from your teeth, and how Sarasota Dentistry can help.
Table of Contents
- Causes Of Tea and Coffee Stains On Teeth
- How To Prevent Tea and Coffee From Staining Teeth
- Other Foods and Beverages That Can Stain Teeth
- Dental Treatments For Tea and Coffee Stains
- Why You Should Find a Dentist to Remove Tartar
Causes Of Tea and Coffee Stains On Teeth
Teas and coffees contain compounds known as tannins—organic plant substances that break down in water and stick to teeth. Tannins are not harmful to your health, as they are found to offer positive anti-inflammatory and antioxidative benefits. However, tannins can make your teeth look yellow when not brushed or rinsed away after drinking tea or coffee.
How To Prevent Tea and Coffee From Staining Teeth
If drinking tea or coffee is part of your normal daily routine, take the following steps to prevent these beverages from staining your teeth.
Rinse your mouth with water about 30 minutes after finishing your drink, then brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth can also help you keep your enamel strong, as coffee and some teas are highly acidic and break down enamel.
Avoid adding sugar, cream, and artificially flavored creamer products to your drinks, given how sugars can also stick to teeth and worsen discoloration. If you typically drink cold teas and coffees, consider using a straw to minimize any potential teeth staining.
Other Foods and Beverages That Can Stain Teeth
Teas and coffees aren’t the only beverages that can stain teeth. Tannins are plant compounds, so many plant-based foods can potentially stain your teeth. Red wine, beets, blueberries, soy sauce, tomatoes, and cranberries are some of many other foods and beverages that can cause yellowing and discoloration.
As a general rule of thumb, drink water or rinse your mouth after eating these foods, and brush your teeth if possible to avoid staining.
Dental Treatments For Tea and Coffee Stains
Professional teeth whitening is a safe and simple cosmetic dentistry treatment that can effectively remove tea and coffee stains from teeth. Teeth whitening works only on natural teeth and isn’t as effective on porcelain crowns, bonded fillings, and other types of dental restorations. However, if you have other oral conditions that can be improved with crowns or dentures, your dentist may recommend these treatments in place of teeth whitening.
Stains and discoloration may also be treated using porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth to improve various cosmetic imperfections—including yellowed and discolored teeth.
The best way to determine which treatment is ideal for you is to visit your dentist for an exam. Your dentist can evaluate the appearance of your teeth and your overall oral health and suggest one or more treatments that may work best for you. Take-home teeth whitening kits are also available for those whose teeth may not respond as well to in-office teeth whitening treatments.
FAQs About Tea and Coffee Stains On Teeth
How do I get coffee and tea stains off my teeth?
Coffee and tea stains can often be removed from teeth using professional teeth whitening treatments available from your dentist. Your dentist may also recommend brands of whitening toothpaste that can help you achieve brighter, whiter teeth over time.
Are coffee and tea stains on teeth permanent?
Coffee and tea stains do not have to be permanent and can often be removed with one or more professional dental treatments. Professional teeth whitening, take-home whitening kits, and porcelain veneers are examples of cosmetic dentistry treatments that can help improve yellowing and discoloration.
Will my teeth get whiter if I stop drinking coffee?
Teeth that have already been stained with coffee usually do not get whiter on their own without professional teeth whitening treatment. However, your teeth can often stay white if you stop drinking coffee, tea, and other teeth-staining foods and beverages after your teeth have been professionally whitened.
How do coffee and tea stain teeth?
Coffees and teas contain compounds called tannins that can stick to teeth and cause staining. Rinsing your mouth with water and brushing your teeth after consuming these beverages can often help prevent staining.
Sarasota Dentistry offers several cosmetic teeth whitening treatments that can help you achieve a brighter, whiter smile. Contact us today at (941) 929-7645 to request an appointment and to learn more about our professional teeth whitening services.
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