Dentist's simple 'teeth saving hack' for those who drink coffee every

13 April 2024 , 11:58

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Drinking coffee can stain your teeth (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Coffee and tea lovers will know how much their favourite drink can stain their teeth over time, but luckily a dentist has shared a hack that can help.

Coffee, black tea and red wine all have something in common, other than being delicious. They all cause discolouration of your tooth enamel. They contain high levels of tannins, which can wear away the enamel over time, leading to more stains.

You might have heard drinking your coffee through a straw to reduce the risk of staining your teeth - but this becomes a problem if you're drinking a hot drink - so what do you do then?

London-based dentist Dr Shaadi Manouchehri, who regularly shares advice on TikTok, recently shared a "teeth saving hack" for people who drink coffee every day, that's "really easy to implement".

She continued: "One of the worst things that you can do for your teeth is sip on coffee throughout the day and that's the one thing I personally want to do.

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"It doesn't matter whether you add sugar or milk to your coffee or not, it's going to damage your teeth in some way."

If you want to avoid staining your teeth badly, Dr Manouchehri advises drinking it "as quickly as possible, within reason" rather than sipping it.

If you sip your coffee over a longer period of time, the dentist warns it's a "constant acidic attack". She added: "What you need to do is drink your coffee within a reasonable amount of time. I would say probably within 20 to 30 minutes."

You should also avoid brushing your teeth straight after drinking it, because they will be in a "very acidic state", and by brushing them you will be "rubbing that acid onto your teeth" - and that's the "worst thing you can do".

Instead, Dr Manouchehri recommends drinking water to "help clear that acidic content out of the mouth quicker", chew sugar free chewing gum or have a sugar free mint, or use mouthwash. But she recommends waiting to brush your teeth until at least 60 minutes after.

If you have problems with your teeth, such as toothache or a sharp pain in your tooth while eating or drinking, you should see a dentist. Tooth decay may not cause symptoms at first, but if it gets worse it can lead to problems, such as cavities.

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz