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Coffee Staining Your Teeth?

Coffee is a morning “must” for many people. If you’re one of them, you may have noticed your favorite beverage has stained your teeth. Why does this happen, and how can you get your teeth back to their previous whiteness?

It’s About the Enamel

The enamel on your teeth is very hard, but it is porous. It contains tiny holes that allow liquids to enter. When those liquids are dark-colored, they can leave dark stains.

Your tendency to stain also depends on the condition of your enamel. Teeth with smooth enamel are less likely to stain. If the surface of your enamel is rough, it is more porous and more likely to stain.

Coffee Is High in Acid

Most foods stain your teeth to some degree, but high-acidity foods are more likely to eat at your enamel and deposit stains.

Some of the main foods that stain teeth include:

  • Citrus fruits

  • Red wine

  • Tomato sauce

  • Colored candies

  • Dark-colored sodas

  • Tea

  • Energy drinks

Types of Tooth Stains

Did you know there are three types of food stain on teeth? Knowing this will help explain why some whiteners work and why at-home whiteners can’t do that much for you.

Extrinsic: This is caused by external stains, including those caused by coffee and other foods. These are surface stains that can be removed by cleaning.

Intrinsic: If your tooth’s internal structure is damaged, this damage can cause your tooth to turn yellow or gray. Smoking is a major cause of intrinsic staining. Some medications can also cause this effect.

Age-related: As we get older, we develop both intrinsic and extrinsic discoloration. Your tooth enamel also gets thinner. These things combine to give your teeth a more yellow color.

Professional tooth whitening can help teeth recover from all these stain types.

Do Over-the-Counter Tooth Whiteners Work?

There are many nonprescription dental whiteners, including toothpaste, filled trays, strips and even whitening mouthwash. Do they work?

Dental professionals agree that these products can remove some surface stains and slightly improve whiteness. At most, they can improve whiteness by about one level. It certainly won’t hurt to keep using them. Be sure the ingredients don’t contain harsh abrasives, which can damage your tooth enamel.

If you want to remove dark, deeply set stains, however, you need professional whitening treatments. These treatments are only available from your dentist. They can restore a youthful whiteness, even to dull, aged or intrinsically discolored teeth. 

Get Whiter Teeth at Your Dentist’s Office

Malan Family Dentistry offers professional tooth whitening. Best of all, we offer a take-home treatment that is fast and easy to use. You’ll remove all those stubborn stains and get sparkling white teeth from the convenience of home. Contact us to learn more.