The weather in Greenville, Texas is finally beginning to feel like fall. Fall weather means sweaters, pumpkins, and possibly sitting out on your porch drinking a nice cup of joe. There are some things that you know are clearly bad for your smile like sticky candy or chewing on pencils, but there are other things that are a little more questionable. Have you wondered if your morning cup of coffee is safe for your teeth? Are you worried that the surface stains could just be one of the problems that coffee can cause for your smile? Let’s explore whether or not coffee is bad for your teeth.
What Are You Putting In It?
The first question you need to ask yourself is what are you putting in your coffee. If you are loading it up with tons of sugar and creamer, it could be problematic for your teeth. If you love the fall flavors of that trendy pumpkin latte, you should know that it is loaded with sugar. Drinking sugar, especially when sipping on it throughout the day, can expose your teeth to trouble. Black coffee, however, is not necessarily harmful to your smile.
Watch Out For Stains
Coffee (as well as tea and wine) contain tannins. Tannins are chemical compounds that can discolor teeth. Depending on your habits, a routine dental cleaning may be enough to remove the buildup of discoloration. If you have stains on your teeth, talk to your dentist about a whitening treatment.
Follow It With Water
Drinking water is good for you and your smile. Drinking water after sipping on coffee can be a good way to rinse away stain-causing elements or any sugar (if there’s any in your coffee). Drinking water can balance out the acidity that coffee can present to your smile. Water can also rehydrate your mouth as the caffeine can be dehydrating.
Coffee can be okay for your smile
Coffee is not necessarily bad for your smile. To schedule a consultation with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX call us at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.