Those who drink coffee every day may need to worry about the side effect of staining their teeth. Fortunately, these stains are relatively superficial, which means your dentist can treat them with a simple whitening procedure. After restoring your smile’s brightness, there are steps you can take to prevent further discoloration while still enjoying your daily cup of joe, which are explained below.

Understanding Coffee Stains

Teeth are covered in enamel, which has microscopic ridges and pits. When food and drink particles settle in these cracks, their pigments can cause permanent staining over time. Since the same pigments exist in coffee topped off with cream, adding milk or creamer will not prevent staining, even if the drink looks much lighter. Plus, adding a lot of sugar can make the teeth more vulnerable to staining, decay, and other oral health issues.  

Eliminating Coffee Stains

Whitening toothpastes and rinses can help prevent stains, thereby maintaining your smile’s current shade. However, if you want to remove stains, you will get the most dramatic results by turning to a dentist for professional whitening.

After restoring your pearly whites, prevent future stains by drinking your coffee relatively quickly instead of sipping it for hours. Then rinse your mouth with water. Refrain from brushing your teeth until half an hour later because coffee’s acidity weakens tooth enamel.

If you’re a die-hard coffee drinker and your teeth have paid the price, turn to Stephanie ML Wong, DMD, for teeth whitening services. Located in Honolulu, HI, this award-winning dentist and her team will be happy to assess your smile and recommend the most advanced whitening procedure based on the stains present. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t all they do, though. As part of their comprehensive dental care services, they also offer root canal treatment, affordable dentures, crowns and bridgework, bonding, and dental implants. To request a dentist appointment, call (808) 732-3072 today, and visit their website for more information on their teeth whitening procedures.