Many coffee and tea lovers worry their teeth will turn yellow. Coloured drinks do cling to teeth, but there are ways to limit it without giving up the habit.
- Coffee, strong tea and red wine contain colour compounds that cling to teeth, especially where there is plaque or tartar.
- Rinsing with clean water afterwards, not sipping all day and brushing regularly help limit staining.
- Wait about 30 minutes after an acidic drink before brushing.
- Scaling cleans surface stains but does not make teeth whiter than their natural shade.
A morning coffee, an afternoon tea or a glass of red wine at the weekend is a familiar habit for many people. After a while, some notice their teeth turning yellow or developing brown streaks near the gumline and between the teeth. Let us look at why this happens and how to limit it.
Why do these drinks stain teeth?
Coffee, strong tea and red wine contain colour compounds (tannins) that cling to the tooth surface, especially where enamel is no longer smooth or where plaque is present. Wine and coffee are also mildly acidic, which makes enamel pick up colour more easily. Over time the colour streaks combine with tartar to form a brown stain.
How can you limit staining?
- Rinse your mouth with clean water straight after drinking, without waiting.
- Do not sip all day. Drinking in one go means less contact time between the drink and your teeth.
- Use a straw for cold drinks to reduce contact with the front teeth.
- Do not brush immediately after an acidic drink. Wait about 30 minutes so the enamel can settle. See whether lemon water and sour fruit harm enamel.
- Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth so plaque cannot build up.
Does scaling remove the stains?
Surface stains and tartar are usually cleaned off during scaling, so teeth look cleaner and brighter. However, scaling does not make teeth whiter than their natural shade. Read more in why teeth turn yellow and whether scaling removes the stain.
Other habits that stain
Smoking is a very common cause of staining and is harder to clean than coffee stains. You can also read how smoking affects the mouth.
When should you visit Ky Hoa Dental Clinic?
Have your teeth scaled regularly to clean off surface stains and have them checked. If one tooth changes colour unusually or a brown spot keeps darkening, let a dentist examine it, since it may be decay. Nha Khoa Ky Hoa is at 266A - 268, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. You can walk in during opening hours, or call the hotline 028.3868.1097 to ask about quieter times first.
Frequently asked questions
Does drinking coffee turn teeth yellow?
Frequent drinking and sipping many times a day can leave teeth with yellow brown stains, especially when tartar or plaque is present. Rinsing with clean water afterwards helps.
Should I brush straight after coffee?
Rinse with clean water right away and wait about 30 minutes before brushing, since coffee is slightly acidic and softens enamel for a short time.
Does scaling make teeth whiter?
Scaling removes surface stains and tartar so teeth look cleaner and brighter, but it does not make them whiter than their natural shade.