How to Enjoy National Coffee Day Without Tarnishing Your Smile

The U.S. and Canada will be celebrating National Coffee Day on September 29th, which means plenty of coffee-lovers will be gathering at their favorite shops for a good cup of joe. While it’s nice to have a good excuse to splurge on some java, maybe there’s a little voice in the back of your mind that’s worried about your teeth.

Between pumpkin spice season and this upcoming holiday, it is going to be tricky to keep your pearly whites – well, white. But don’t worry. Simply keep reading for some tips on how to enjoy National Coffee Day without tarnishing your smile!

Be Prepared with Consistent Oral Hygiene

It’s no secret that strong pigments like what you’ll find in coffee can cause dental staining. Once they settle into the pores of your enamel, they can be tough to remove, which is why teeth whitening treatments are so popular. However, you can mitigate dental staining at home by thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth every day. Yellowing pigments will have a harder time sticking around if you keep up with consistent cleaning!

Chase Down Espresso with Warm Water and Gum

The idea behind dental stain prevention is to chase away strong pigments before they have time to become ingrained in your enamel’s pores. Oral hygiene is one effective trick; another is to rinse your mouth with warm water after finishing your caffeinated brew. Sugar-free chewing gum can also help limit discoloration and comes with the added benefit of clearing away espresso-breath, too.

Avoid Direct Pigment Contact with Straws

Maybe you’re a cold-brew fan and usually drink coffee through a straw anyway. If so, don’t skip ahead just yet! Straws can help your pearly whites avoid direct contact with powerful coffee pigments, but only if you position them correctly in your mouth. Basically, make sure your straw doesn’t flush dark liquid straight into your front teeth. Rest the tip farther back in your mouth or closer to your upper ridge instead.

The Benefits of Drinking Coffee

Coffee might be one of the more powerful dental stain-causers, but it’s important to keep with the spirit of National Coffee Day and remember some of its benefits!  For one thing, a good, cozy cup of joe definitely gives you a reason to smile and show off your pearly whites.

For another, coffee is actually rich in polyphenols. These antioxidants excel in breaking down bacteria, which is often the root cause of oral illnesses like gum disease and tooth decay. Just go easy on the sugar. Otherwise, you’ll speed up bacterial growth instead.

Keep these tips in mind as you gear-up for National Coffee Day, and you can kick back with your favorite cozy drink without worries.

About the Author

Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew is an exceptional dentist with impressive credentials. He was even selected as a “Texas Super Dentist” by Texas Monthly Magazine, so you could say he knows a thing or two about teeth! If you want to celebrate National Coffee Day the smile-friendly way, Dr. Pettigrew would be happy to help with a professional cleaning or teeth whitening. To learn more about dental staining or schedule an appointment, you can contact his office at 817-481-4888.