Coffee Before and After Teeth Whitening: Keep Your Smile Looking Great By Dr. Degel on December 04, 2015

A woman enjoying coffee in bedIf you have teeth that are yellow or dingy, there are plenty of treatment options that can make your smile look its very best. Professional teeth whitening is a great way to get rid of dental stains, and it's a common treatment we've used here at Astoria Dental Group.

Many patients have questions about the way coffee affects the look of their smiles. It may be essential to get up and get going in the morning, but it does take its toll on smile aesthetics.

How Bad Does Coffee Stain Teeth?

Drinking coffee over a long period of time can result in major staining and discoloration of your teeth. Like red wine and tobacco use, a lifetime of coffee can mean yellowing and dinginess, and the overall look of your smile is certainly not its whitest.

There are many different ways that you can get your teeth to look brighter and whiter again, and one great option to consider is professional teeth whitening.

How Teeth Whitening Treatment Works

Teeth whitening systems vary to a certain degree, but the primary apparatus is almost always the same. The bleaching agent uses hydrogen peroxide to whiten the enamel layer of the teeth. The stain itself is not removed but rather bleached along with the tooth structure. After multiple teeth whitening sessions, a patient's smile will appear bright, white, and beautiful.

How Effective Is Teeth Whitening Treatment?

Teeth whitening treatment is a highly effective option for treating extrinsic dental stains, which are stains that originate on the enamel layer of the tooth. Professional teeth whitening is much more effective than at-home whitening products. In just one session of professional teeth whitening, a person's smile may be whitened by several shades.

Since coffee stains are extrinsic, teeth whitening is highly effective at bleaching discolored tooth structure caused by years of coffee drinking.

Will Coffee Stain My Teeth After Teeth Whitening Treatment?

Yes.

While teeth whitening can work wonders after just a session or two, it does not make your teeth stain resistant. Anything that could stain your teeth before teeth whitening can still lead to stains, but there are various ways that you can reduce future discoloration from coffee drinking.

Tip: Drink Cold Brew/Iced Coffee with a Straw

If you drink lots of iced coffee, consider using a straw. The straw allows the iced coffee to bypass your teeth, which reduces stains on the teeth in the process.

Tip: Go Easy on Coffee

Another option to consider is cutting back on your coffee consumption. This is especially important if you have many cups of coffee a day. Cutting back means less exposure of your teeth to a substance that causes a stain. It's just common sense.

Tip: Brush and Floss After Every Meal

After having coffee, it's not a bad idea to rinse your mouth with water and then brush and floss your teeth. This will remove stain-causing agents in a timely manner and help keep your smile bright and white. Since coffee is acidic, you may want to consider waiting an hour before you brush and floss to prevent damaging your tooth enamel.

Tip: Undergo Additional Teeth Whitening Sessions If Needed

It's not uncommon to undergo multiple teeth whitening sessions if your tooth discoloration is particularly severe. Touch-up teeth whitening can keep your smile looking its very best for a long while down the road.

Contact Astoria Dental Group for a Beautiful Smile

For more information on how to keep your smile looking its absolute best, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice today. The team at Astoria Dental Group will work with you to ensure that your smile looks its absolute best.

Related to This

Doctors Carmen Every-Degel and Clifford Degel

Astoria Dental Group

Our doctors are widely recognized for their contributions to the field of dentistry. They are members of various prestigious organizations, including: 

  • Academy of General Dentistry 
  • American Academy of Implant Dentistry 
  • International Congress of Oral Implantologists 
  • American Dental Association

If you are ready to transform your smile with Astoria Dental Group, request a consultation online or call us in Queens at (718) 278-1123.

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