Our health starts from our mouth, particularly teeth. Healthy teeth are crucial to maintain our health. Most food that is beneficial to health can affect your dental health. The best example is coffee, It has various health benefits for the human body. However, it poses some dental concerns like “can coffee cause tooth decay” or “does drinking coffee cause cavities”
Coffee is consumed daily. Although consumed in limited amount, drinking coffee daily also affects your mouth in addition to the morning boost. It isn’t exactly the good way. Coffee is a complex drink, in addition to beneficial nutrients it also contains bacteria and acids that increase risk of developing cavities, bad breath/halitosis, sensitivity, and tooth discoloration.
It contains micronutrient tannins (a type of polyphenol) that cause stains. Tannins is a natural plant compound responsible for bitterness and astringency of the drink. In addition it brings bacteria and acids into the mouth leading to erosion of tooth enamel, which makes teeth sensitive over time. These affects are same for every type of coffee, so adding more milk or creamer will not help.
How Does Coffee Affect Teeth Health?
We have already mentioned the acidic profile of coffee that causes different types of bacteria to grow. These bacteria lead to stains. However, coffee contains tannins as well. It is a natural color compound found in different types of foods and drinks such as coffee, black tea, popsicles, tomato and berries.
There is a rule of thumb about food and drink that if it stains clothes it will stain your teeth as well. The natural color compound sticks to teeth and gives you undesirable yellow teeth.
Does Drinking Coffee Cause Cavities?
Coffee has its health benefits but it can be a menace to teeth. Although, coffee doesn’t affect teeth directly. There are some reasons that lead to cavities by drinking coffee. After that we will explain how you can secure your dental health. Here are some factors that lead to damage.
Acidity
Coffee contains some acids and antioxidants. This acid has a key role in reducing tooth enamel removal over time. It increases the risk of having cavities in teeth. If you start to feel any damage to your teeth, reduce the daily coffee intake and visit your dentist ASAP.
Bacterial Growth
Bacterial growth increases in mouth with coffee consumption. These bacteria can produce acids that can damage teeth. So, brush your teeth right after having a cup of coffee.
Sugar and Cream
Adding milk or cream in your coffee doesn’t prevent cavities. Because added sugar, sweetener and cream increases the acidity of the drink. It is better to choose black coffee with no sugar or with a small amount of sugar.
How Can You Prevent Coffee From Staining Your Teeth?
A hot cup of coffee or tea is a part of life for many people. It is a booster drink to start a productive day. Coffee is an acidic drink that will affect teeth by eating away the enamel. After removing the enamel, teeth become more sensitive and stains aren’t removed easily.
Here are some precautions you must follow if you want to save your teeth and dental health.
- Brush Your Teeth Right After Drinking Coffee
- Daily Intake of Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
- Drink in One Sitting
- Use a Straw to Drink Coffee
- Limit Drinking Coffee
- Use an Electric Toothbrush
We will explain some of these precautions for your benefit:
Brush Your Teeth Right After Drinking Coffee
It is a good habit to brush your teeth right after eating something or drinking. And when you drink coffee or tea it becomes crucial to brush your teeth for betterment of your dental health.
Daily Intake of Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Crunchy fruits and vegetables also help in cleaning the teeth and prevent long term stains. Crunchy Vegetables and fruits increase the saliva production in the mouth which helps a lot in keeping teeth healthy and clean.
Drink in One Sitting
Saliva produced in the mouth helps to clean the mouth. After drinking coffee, its acids and bacteria attack the teeth. It lasts for 20 minutes after every sip you take. It is recommended to drink coffee in one sitting and let the mouth rest to heal the damage.
Use a Straw to Drink Coffee
Using a straw to drink coffee can reduce the coffee contact to teeth. Coffee will be less effective on teeth this way.
Limit Drinking Coffee
If you feel the stains on your teeth constantly by drinking 3 cups a day (which is a standard limit of caffeine consumption), you must reduce daily coffee intake to 2 or 1 cup.
Final Thoughts
Coffee is a beneficial drink for the human body but there are some disadvantages as well. It boosts the central nervous system and increases focus & alertness. Since coffee is an acidic drink, it may damage your teeth and you might face some dental health related challenges.
Acids in coffee can erode tooth enamel and make them sensitive. It also leads to tooth cavities. If you use milk, sugar or cream in your coffee, chances of dental health damage increases. It is recommended to brush your teeth after every cup of coffee.
