{"id":6152,"date":"2023-08-01T02:21:01","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T19:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6152"},"modified":"2023-08-01T02:21:01","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T19:21:01","slug":"5-ways-to-make-coffee-less-harmful-to-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6152","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways To Make Coffee Less Harmful to Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">N<\/span>o matter your stance on whether sweet vs. savory breakfasts are the way to go, a steamy cup of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/benefits-of-coffee\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/benefits-of-coffee\/\">coffee<\/a> is likely to be present in either scenario. If you can function without at least a <em>little<\/em> java running through your veins, you are a superhero greater than I.<\/div>\n<p>The downside to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/before-you-drink-coffee\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/before-you-drink-coffee\/\">starting every morning with coffee<\/a>? It can impact your pearly whites in the long-term\u2014partially because\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-bad-for-teeth\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-bad-for-teeth\/\">coffee&#8217;s highly acidic,<\/a> which can contribute to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/oral-health-tips\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/oral-health-tips\/\">teeth staining and erosion<\/a>. <em>Big sigh<\/em>. Dentists say that doesn&#8217;t mean you need to go cold turkey, though. Ahead: The full story on how coffee impacts oral health, plus dentist-approved ways to make coffee less harmful to your teeth.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How coffee impacts your teeth<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/mymanhattancosmeticdentist.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/mymanhattancosmeticdentist.com\/about\/\">Michael Wei, DDS<\/a>, a New York City-based cosmetic dentist, coffee negatively impacts your pearly whites in three main ways. \u201cIt contains tannins that can stain teeth, acid that can erode tooth enamel, and caffeine that can dry out the mouth, reducing saliva production and leading to an increased risk of cavities,\u201d Dr. Wei says.\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300;\">\u201cIt contains <\/span><a style=\"font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/worst-drink-for-teeth\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/worst-drink-for-teeth\/\">tannins that can stain teeth<\/a><span style=\"font-family: 'PT Serif', serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300;\">, acid that can erode tooth enamel, and caffeine that can dry out the mouth, reducing saliva production and leading to an increased risk of cavities,\u201d Dr. Wei says.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt contains tannins that can stain teeth, acid that can erode tooth enamel, and caffeine that can dry out the mouth, reducing saliva production and leading to an increased risk of cavities,\u201d Dr. Wei says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let&#8217;s hone in on the acidity of coffee. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cathleen-stewart-7a6b6422\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cathleen-stewart-7a6b6422\/\">Cathy Stewart, RDH, BS<\/a>, the manager of professional education South Central at <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSFD-1094477%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.usa.philips.com%252Fc-m-pe%252Fdental-professionals&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fcoffee-and-oral-health%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.usa.philips.com\/c-m-pe\/dental-professionals\">Philips Oral Healthcare<\/a>, coffee stands at a pH level of five. \u201cThe pH scale measures the acidity of a solution with pure water in the middle at neutral pH of seven. The lower the pH, the stronger the acid,\u201d Stewart says. (For context, most vinegar has a pH between two and three.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-and-oral-health\/\" current-title=\"5 Dentist-Approved Ways To Make Coffee Less Harmful to Your Teeth (That Require Next to No Effort)\" current-image=\"coffee-and-oral-health.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-01-31\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-and-oral-health\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-and-oral-health\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/coffee-and-oral-health\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Because anything with a pH below seven can have a corrosive effect on teeth, Stewart explains that coffee acids can subsequently soften tooth enamel and chemically dissolve the outer layer, weakening and eroding the enamel over time. \u201cIf frequently consumed, coffee can lead to increased tooth sensitivity and even cavities,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, Stewart points out that most folks don\u2019t usually consume plain ol\u2019 black coffee\u2014which can also lead to even further oral health complications. \u201cThe addition of sugar, creamers, and other sweetened flavorings to coffee also increases the risk of tooth decay. Sugars in these additives feed the bacteria that cause tooth decay,\u201d Stewart says.<\/p>\n<p>All of the above said, Stewart and Dr. Wei agree that the amount of coffee you drink and how often matter most\u2014especially if you&#8217;re one to guzzle the stuff like it&#8217;s liquid gold (hi, it&#8217;s me). &#8220;For many of us, a cup of coffee starts our day,&#8221; Stewart says, highlighting that the routine, high-frequency way that many of us sip coffee is what&#8217;s most likely to be harmful to oral health.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A word on \u201ccoffee breath\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Unfortunately, your teeth aren\u2019t the only part of the mouth that can take a hit from too much coffee acid. Yep, we\u2019re talking about coffee breath. <em>Ick. <\/em>\u201cSome of the compounds in coffee can interact with the bacteria in saliva and leave you with coffee breath. Coffee\u2019s acidic nature also causes astringency, the drying effect you might feel in your mouth after having coffee,\u201d Stewart says. \u201cThe naturally occurring tannins in coffee interact with saliva and inhibit its production\u2014this is why drinking water after having coffee is especially important, as it can help wash away residual acids on the tooth surface and help promote healthy saliva production.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5 tips for making coffee less harmful to your oral hygiene\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>1. Brush your teeth <em>before<\/em> drinking coffee<\/h3>\n<p>Arguably the easiest (and most important) way to prevent the damaging effects of coffee on oral health is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/brush-teeth-before-or-after-drinking-coffee\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/brush-teeth-before-or-after-drinking-coffee\/\">brushing your teeth <em>before<\/em> (not after) drinking coffee<\/a>. And although this may sound counterintuitive, Stewart says there\u2019s a logical explanation. \u201cTo prevent damage to your enamel and combat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/foods-that-stain-teeth\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/foods-that-stain-teeth\/\">staining directly caused by coffee drinking<\/a>, the easiest solution is to brush prior to drinking coffee. Remember, coffee is acidic. Brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking anything acidic weakens tooth enamel and causes staining,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t stand the feeling of coffee breath, Stewart notes that brushing your teeth every now and then after a cup of coffee isn\u2019t the end of the world, though she advises against making a habit out of it for the sake of your enamel. \u201cIf it happens occasionally, it\u2019s likely to cause a micro-abrasion; however, if brushing after drinking is a daily occurrence, then enamel will be worn away over time. Enamel is not regenerated, so it is important to take steps to protect it,\u201d Stewart says.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Wait at least 30 minutes <em>after<\/em> drinking coffee to brush your teeth<\/h3>\n<p>Although Stewart is adamant about brushing your teeth only before (we repeat, <em>before<\/em>) sipping on coffee, she notes that in the event that you must brush your teeth afterward, you should always wait at least 30 minutes before doing so. \u201cYour mouth needs roughly 30 minutes to return to its normal state\u2014during this 30-minute time period, your saliva will neutralize the acidity. Once your mouth is neutralized, it\u2019s safe to brush as the enamel is not soft and prone to damage,\u201d Stewart says.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in a serious time crunch, she recommends thoroughly rinsing your mouth with water before brushing to help clear some of the residual acids from the tooth\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Establish a solid oral healthcare routine<\/h3>\n<p>At the core of it, Stewart says healthy teeth start with establishing a solid oral healthcare routine that will go a long way for your oral health. \u201cIt\u2019s important to maintain a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/oral-health-routine\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/oral-health-routine\/\">healthy oral healthcare routine<\/a> and keep up with routine dental visits. Additionally, I recommend patients use a power toothbrush, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSFD-1094477%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.usa.philips.com%252Fc-e%252Fpe%252Felectric-toothbrushes%252Fsonicare%252Fprestige-9900.html&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fcoffee-and-oral-health%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.usa.philips.com\/c-e\/pe\/electric-toothbrushes\/sonicare\/prestige-9900.html\">Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige<\/a>. This model has all the bells and whistles to provide quality results\u2014it features sonic vibrations in combination with a Premium All-in-One brush head to remove up to 20 times more plaque and 100 percent stain reduction in less than two days.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>4. Use a straw to sip on coffee<\/h3>\n<p>Since avoiding direct contact between coffee acids and your teeth is the goal, Stewart also recommends using a straw to sip your drink. (Just don\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/drinking-coffee-fast\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/drinking-coffee-fast\/\">drink it too fast\u2014that can lead to stomach irritation<\/a>.) This will, in turn, also help reduce the staining effects of coffee.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Don\u2019t forget to drink plenty of water<\/h3>\n<p>By now, you may know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/optimal-hydration-longevity\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/optimal-hydration-longevity\/\">adequate hydration<\/a> is of utmost importance for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/hydration-needs-age\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/hydration-needs-age\/\">regulating many bodily functions<\/a>. And when it comes to oral health, it\u2019s no different. According to Stewart, drinking ample water\u2014these are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/best-types-of-water-for-dental-health\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/best-types-of-water-for-dental-health\/\">best types of water for dental health<\/a>\u2014not only helps keep you hydrated, but it also regulates the mouth\u2019s pH balance and keeps enamel erosion at bay. \u201cI recommend drinking water throughout the day, not only before and after consuming coffee. Water can help neutralize the acids in your mouth, clearing any potential residue from food and drink during the day,\u201d Stewart says. You can nosh on a few other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/foods-good-for-teeth\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/foods-good-for-teeth\/\">foods that are good for your teeth<\/a> while you&#8217;re at it.<\/p>\n<h2>The story on stain removal<\/h2>\n<p>Stewart says that it&#8217;s best to speak with a dental health professional before trying whitening products to see if they&#8217;re right for you. \u201cIf you notice staining, you can use ask your dental professional about whitening products, such as toothpastes or solutions. These products sometimes feature chemicals designed to get rid of discoloration but can also be abrasive on teeth, so it is important to check with your dental professional before regular use,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p><em>An RD shares the benefits of drinking coffee:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Benefits of Coffee, Explained by A Dietitian | You Versus Food\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EsQt8aevoZw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No matter your stance on whether sweet vs. savory breakfasts are the way to go, a steamy cup of coffee is likely to be present in either scenario. If you can function without at least a little java running through your veins, you are a superhero greater than I. The downside to starting every morning &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6152\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}