Protect Your Family's Teeth From Coffee
Coffee is a favorite drink for many around the world. But this substance can also cause damage to your family's teeth over time if some precautions are not kept. If you want to keep your smile and those of your loved ones looking great, here are some tips that might help:
Use a Straw to Keep the Beverage Away From Your Teeth
Someone who drinks coffee religiously every day will be staining their teeth with every sip. This won't do anything that you'll notice on a day to day basis, but the stain will become more noticeable over time. One way you could try and protect your teeth is by using a straw. When you suck the beverage into your mouth with a straw, you'll be swallowing it quickly and before it really has much of a chance to swish around in your mouth and hit your teeth. While this is a great idea for coffee and tea, you can also use this strategy for other beverages like the sugary sodas that your kids might gulp down.
Rinse with Water If No Other Options
Ideally, you'll want to brush your teeth after you are done drinking coffee, but this might not be possible in the middle of the day. If nothing else, at least ask the waiter for a glass of water and use it to rinse your mouth a bit. This will help remove at least some of the lingering stain from your teeth before it has a chance to really set in and cause significant damage. You could also try keeping a travel size mouth wash in your car for emergencies as needed. Encourage your family to do the same.
Add Some Milk
Adding milk to your coffee could work wonders for keeping stains at bay. First, the milk itself is white and will change the color of the coffee or tea so that it is not as dark, which means the stain won't be either. But milk also contains proteins that can attack the stain-causing substances within coffee, stopping the stain in its tracks before it has a chance to do any damage.
If your family's smiles are not looking as good as they used to, it's possible your coffee addiction could be to blame. Start drinking your favorite beverage through a straw and rinse your mouth out at every opportunity in order to reduce the long term effects of drinking coffee. For more tips and best practices, reach out to someone who offers family dentist services today.