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What Makes Coffee Stain Teeth?

Coffee stains teeth from their original white to a yellowish color, and this can get worse over time. The darker the coffee, the darker the stain. Coffee drinkers tend to have a darker stain on their front teeth from sipping.

  1. Our Enamel

    • Everyone's tooth enamel--the white coating covering our teeth--has tiny holes in it that make up its texture. This enamel is made up of salt crystals, which can be bleached back to white, just as you can bleach stains in white fabrics. Food and drinks get into the holes in our enamel and can stain our teeth over time. As we age the holes in our enamel get bigger, making it easier for older teeth to stain. The common rule is if the substance can stain clothes, it can stain your teeth.

    Exposure and Frequency

    • The more coffee you drink, the higher chances you have of staining your teeth. Do not drink your coffee all day; instead, have one or two cups a day, and drink them quickly, so your teeth aren't exposed for longer periods to the coffee. Concentrate on avoiding letting the coffee touch your front teeth while drinking to lessen the stain.

    Tips to Decrease Stain

    • You can undergo a tooth whitening treatment to get rid of stains, but you can also do things to prevent teeth staining. Drink your coffee through a straw. Use a whitening toothpaste before and after drinking coffee. Make your coffee lighter by adding cream or milk. Rinse your mouth with a glass of water after drinking, or take sips of water and swish it around in your mouth between drinks of coffee.

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