Get Rid of Coffee Stains On Teeth

Introduction

The staining and discoloration of teeth is something that affects everybody at some point. While simple aging plays a large role in this, we accelerate the process through habits such as smoking, and drinking tea and coffee.

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The surface of your teeth is made up of something called tooth enamel. This is a hard material that protects the inner tissues of the teeth. As hard as enamel is, it is still porous, which leaves it susceptible to staining with prolonged exposure to certain foods or drinks. Yellow coffee teeth stains are just one example of staining.

So what is the actual cause of the stains?

Well just like you'd imagine, every day when you drink coffee a thin layer forms over the teeth which collects yellow and brownish stains.

In addition, the outside layer of our teeth, the enamel, has small pores which absorb and hold these discoloring blemishes. While not normally a health issue, these stains over time can build up and cause embarrassment.

What can we do about coffee teeth stains?

Well, one obvious answer is to simply limit our intake of coffee. This will help to slow the staining process. However for many of us, not drinking coffee is just not an option, and even if it is, the damage has likely already been done. In this case, teeth whitening is in order. While not a permanent solution for coffee teeth stains (since as we continue to drink coffee, our teeth will start staining again,) done every couple of years, teeth whitening can reverse the cosmetic issues resulting from coffee teeth stains and give you back a white beautiful smile.

There are many teeth whitening solutions and products on the market for getting rid of coffee teeth stains and it can seem daunting to compare them as they all range widely in price, method and results. For people in a hurry, dentists can perform laser whitening or UV whitening, which gives great results in just one or two sessions but can cost upwards of $400!

Closeup image of a female mouth showing a split view comparison of teeth before (left side) and after (right side) tooth whitening process.

There are various other treatments you can use to improve the coloring in your teeth, and to remove stains.

One of the most popular is over the counter teeth whitening kits. These can consist of trays, or strips that are placed on the teeth, and often contain whitening agents such as hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide penetrates the enamel of the teeth and helps bleach any stains that may reside there. This can give your smile and overall whiter appearance.

Your teeth can also be whitened at an oral hygienist, or dentist office, this is called cosmetic dentistry.

They will often use peroxides along with a bright light to help penetrate deep into the teeth and remove any staining that has occurred. This method is very effective, but often expensive so most people will opt for the over the counter whitening kits.

Using teeth whitening strips is extremely easy and doesn't require any equipment or discomfort. Just 5 minutes twice per day for six days. This particular dental whitening system begins washing away coffee, tea and other hard-to-remove stains after only one use. The unique 2-step process releases free oxygen to oxidize and lift organic stains away from teeth, not just cover them or bleach them out like most teeth whitening products.