Coffee Lover? Coffee Stains Your Teeth
How coffee stains teeth?
Tannins are the primary culprit for coffee stain on teeth. Tannins are in tea and red wine too, which is why these drinks can also stain teeth. Enamel is the hard covering of teeth that protects them from decay and damage. But there are tiny pores in enamel, so small substances — like tannins — can get stuck in them. Tannins are brown. So when they get stuck in pores, your teeth can start to look a yellowish-brown color.
Whitening toothpaste
Whitening toothpastes contain abrasives. These abrasives work by scrubbing the stains off your teeth and restoring the natural color. The downside of this method is that the abrasive will also scrape off some of your protective enamel. To avoid this, many whitening toothpastes use softer abrasives, like sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. But these softer abrasives may not be strong enough to remove the stains on your teeth.
Whitening strips
Another popular option for removing coffee stains from teeth are over-the-counter whitening strips. Despite the name “bleaching strips” — whitening strips do not contain bleach (which is a good thing, because ingesting it would be harmful). Many strips contain hydrogen peroxide, which is the agent that removes stains. Research shows that hydrogen peroxide strips are more effective than whitening toothpaste. But the hydrogen peroxide can cause dental sensitivity and changes in your oral microbiome (bacteria).
Quality oral hygiene
Any dental professional will tell you that quality oral hygiene is the most important thing you can do for your teeth. This means brushing and flossing, along with regular dental cleanings and checkups. Oral care may not solve all of your teeth staining concerns, but it will keep your teeth and gums healthy. And keeping your enamel strong is important for preventing dental discoloration. Keep in mind that these treatments don’t work for everyone. And many people need more than one treatment in order to remove all of the coffee stains from their teeth.