If you want a bright, beautiful smile, coffee may be one of the biggest obstacles standing in your way. Many people enjoy coffee and rely on it to start their day, but this drink is full of tannins and dark pigments that stain your teeth. To keep your pearly whites shining, consider these five oral hygiene tips.

How to Protect Your Teeth From Coffee

1. Use a Straw

When you sip directly from a cup, the liquid washes over your front teeth before you swallow it. When you use a straw, it goes straight to the back of your mouth instead, minimizing contact with your dental enamel.

2. Rinse Your Mouth

Most of the staining power of coffee happens slowly as it sits on your teeth, and not in the initial moment of contact. Rinsing your mouth with water after drinking limits the time it has to cause damage.

3. Brush & Floss

Similarly, thorough teeth cleaning is the best way to completely get rid of any coffee residue. In particular, you should floss after drinking it; without this oral hygiene practice, coffee which soaks into the plaque between your teeth can cause dark stains outlining each tooth.

4. Drink Quickly

Another way to limit the time coffee is in contact with your teeth is to gulp it down instead of sipping it slowly. You may need to drink it slightly colder to make this possible; adding more cream or milk can help bring the temperature down.

5. Visit a Dentist Regularly

Your dentist will provide a more thorough cleaning than you can get at home, removing plaque and tartar which may be dulling the surface of your teeth. They can also provide teeth whitening services to combat the long-term effects of coffee on your enamel.

If you're overdue for a visit to the dentist, call Timber Drive Dental in Rinelander, WI. Their focus on patient comfort makes good oral hygiene easier than ever, and they are pleased to offer a full range of payment plans and insurance options to make this service accessible to all their Oneida County patients. To schedule an appointment, contact them at (715) 365-1800 or online.