Avoid caffeine and flash those pearly whites

Beautiful smile

That splendid cup of coffee we wake up to every day seems to single handedly drive us through our morning blues.

The same cup com­es to our rescue several times a day when we are stressed or too much under work press­ure. While most of us just ca­n­not live without our daily dose of coffee or tea, not ma­ny know or choose to ignore that this stimulant, considered a stress-busting boon can easily become a bane for our teeth. 

Dark coloured drinks and beverages are known to cau­se stains on the teeth. The sight of yellow teeth not only gives a negative appearance, it also speaks a lot about the hygiene level as well. Stained or yellow teeth can actually put people off!“Our teeth are covered by the hard tissue called enamel that protects them from damage. Enamel is the hardest tissue in human body and comprises minerals. What makes enamel susceptible to yellow stains is the fact that there are microscopic spaces on the enamel that allow alien molecules to stick to it,” says Dr Chetna Mehta from Axiss Dental.

“Coloured beverages have microscopic molecules called chromogens that have a tendency to stick on to the spac­es in the tooth enamel. Over a period of time, these colou­r­ed molecules become like a part of the teeth and give it a yellow colour. Another factor that causes discolouration of teeth is acidic food. Along wi­th coffee, food items like fruit juices, colas and spicy food has similar effect as they tend to erode the enamel. Besides yellowing, this will have more serious consequences like sensitivity or cavities,” added Dr Mehta.

The more coffee one cons­umes, the more yellowing effect it will have on their teeth. In any case, too much addiction to caffeine is not a good idea for the overall health as well. It causes acidity, kills appetite and makes the mind de­pendent on it. So, it is best to limit the intake of coffee to one or two cups daily. 

Yet, when you consume even just one or two cups of coffee every day, you should follow certain hygiene rules to guard your teeth from its harmful effects.

Wash your mouth regularly. After finishing each cup of coffee, do not let the particles stay in your mouth for a long period. Immediately wash yo­ur mouth thoroughly or bru­sh your teeth to remove the sticking beverage molecules from the enamel. 

Use salt to give cover to yo­ur tooth enamel. Salt is very useful for the teeth as it can form a protective covering around the enamel and prev­ent alien particles from sticking to the teeth. After every meal, take a cup of lukewarm water, add a small quantity of salt to it and use it to rinse your teeth. 

Abstain from drinking coff­ee throughout the day: If you cannot do without coffee, at least try to have regular time slots to consume it. Do not ke­ep a cup at your desk all day and go on sipping from it.

Keep seeing a dentist. Ma­ke it a point to visit a dentist once a year. Do not wait for the pro­b­lem to start. 

Dr Ekta Chadha, another dentist, said, “Anything that can stain your clothes can sta­in your teeth also. Tooth dec­ay is the second most comm­on disease after cold, hap­­­­­p­­en-ing mostly due to food lodgi­ng. Tooth infection can also lead to infection in the heart known as bacterial endocar­ditis. Make sure you drink a glass of water before you go to bed as it flushes out bacteria present in the mouth.”