Keep Coffee from Staining your teeth

Posted on: 2016-06-14 1:49 PM

So here is the scoop. Tooth stains from coffee are caused by numerous polyphenols found in coffee which adhere to the outside of your teeth. Anything you can do that limits the quantity of polyphenols that come into contact with your teeth will limit the amount of staining caused by coffee. Ironically, polyphenols due confer protection to your teeth from acids and make give coffee the complex flavors many people enjoy, so you need to find a balance you are comfortable with.
 
Here is a list ways you can limit the staining effects of the coffee you drink:
Drink your coffee with high fat animal milk (and no it isn't because milk is white). Animal milk proteins bind polyphenols (at least until the coffee reaches your stomach) and bind better the higher the fat content of the milk. Soy milk, etc. will not reduce staining.
Drink coffee made from 100% Arabica Beans that were dry processed (Robusta beans have more polyphenols....and more caffeine).
Select a brewing method that extracts less polyphenols. This also means less caffeine unfortunately. This is a longer discussion point so here is a link to the details: http://www.freysmiles.com/blog/v...
Decrease contact of the coffee with your teeth (already covered by Danish Qadri). You can do this by drinking it very quickly (much easier with espresso), or by drinking with a straw aimed at the back of your tongue (not super comfy). Rinsing also might be beneficial though there isn't good data on this.
 
Aside from reducing the staining impact from the coffee itself, you can (and will still have to) treat the effects of the coffee.
 
Use a Sonicare toothbrush. Studies have shown that using a Sonicare will reduce stain formation on teeth. Plaque has a tendency to imbibe stains and keeping your teeth clean will slow stain formation. I wouldn't brush immediately after drinking coffee because your teeth may still be "soft" from the acidity in the coffee, as long as you thoroughly clean your teeth 1 to 2 times a day this will take care of the plaque. Also do not use whitening toothpastes (see the post What is the best toothpaste?)
 
Whiten your teeth occasionally. This is best done through your dentist since they can provide you with bleaching agents (either trays or in office treatments) that provide the best color stability (your teeth will be whiter longer), and also can administer additional treatment to whiten teeth safely. I need to stress that you definitely should not whiten too much, it strips your teeth of its natural protective protein coating. Take at least a couple months off in between whitening cycles for maximal tooth health.
 
If you’re not up for spending thousands of $’s on teeth whitening. I tried this and it’s reasonably effective.
 
Of course, this is not a replacement for normal dental care or professional cleaning and I asked my dentist before trying it (you should too!). I’ve found that this method work great along side my normal brushing and flossing routine.
 
Activated Charcoal
 
This was suggested to me by a holistic dentist years ago when I casually asked about teeth whitening. Yes, I was skeptical at first. But I gave it a try and have been impressed with the results over time.
 
Yes, it looks terrifying while you are doing it and you will absolutely think for a minute that you were duped by a blogger into permanently staining your teeth. Then, you’ll rinse your mouth and brush as usual and notice that your teeth are not only white again, but possibly whiter.
 
This works because activated charcoal is a highly absorbent porous substance that binds to things like tannins that stain teeth and leave them yellow or brown. It might also have other benefits for the mouth as well:
 
Further research I’ve done on this showed that activated charcoal can actually be helpful in changing the pH and health of the mouth, and as such is effective in avoiding cavities and killing the bad bacteria present in tooth decay and gingivitis.
 
Some process tips for you.
 
Keep a microfiber cloth on hand to make cleanup easy as it can make a mess on counters and sinks (though it will come out of them as well)
I simply dip my toothbrush into some powdered charcoal that I keep in a small jar on my counter and brush as normal. Another way that will produce results more quickly is to mix a teaspoon of charcoal powder into some water and swish with it for a few minutes. Then, spit the water and leave the remaining charcoal in the mouth for a few minutes so that it has time to bind to stains.
It is super important to use activated charcoal from a food/medical grade source. This is not the same as charcoal from your BBQ grill…do not use that.
I did this every day for a week when I started and now maintain by using it once a week or so.
I felt comfortable brushing with charcoal during pregnancy since oral health is even more important then, and it is spit out and not consumed. I checked with my midwife first (and you should too if pregnant).