Is Black Coffee Bad for Your Teeth?

You can’t picture your morning without at least one cup of coffee. But you may be wondering what this daily habit is doing to your teeth. Online, you can find countless tales that blame black coffee for anything from badly stained teeth to even weaker teeth.

So instead of believing rumors, read this short article from 320 Dental Studio to get the full picture of how black coffee affects your teeth.

Black Coffee Weakens the Teeth: Partially True

Black coffee is acidic, and exposing your teeth to it over the years can theoretically weaken the tooth's natural enamel and even increase the risk for cavities and other oral health issues.

But black coffee is not as acidic as other drinks you might also like to enjoy, such as orange juice, red wine, or fizzy drinks. By itself, coffee will not erode your teeth, and neither will the other acidic foods on their own.

Your overall diet can, of course, weaken your enamel and lead to oral health issues if you don’t protect your teeth. Since many highly acidic foods and drinks are breakfast staples (such as orange juice or toast), you can prevent damage by brushing your teeth before your meal. This will cover your teeth in a protective layer of fluoride.

With proper oral hygiene and routine preventative dental visits, you don’t have to worry about black coffee weakening your teeth. 

Black Coffee Stains the Teeth: True

If you regularly drink black coffee, you’re more at risk of staining your teeth than eroding them.

Black coffee is responsible for a lot of people’s "darker" smiles. The drink can leave stains on the surface of your teeth, which can be difficult to remove at home. Tea and red wine drinkers may also have this issue.

Luckily, these stains can be removed either through professional dental cleaning or teeth whitening if they are more severe.

Coffee with Cream Is Better for the Teeth: False

You may think that adding some milk and sugar to your coffee can weaken its effects on your teeth. But this can do more harm than good.

Even if you skip the sugar, milk and its derivatives naturally have sugar in them. Most people don’t brush their teeth or drink water after enjoying coffee, so this means you’re giving harmful bacteria traces of milk to feed on. When eating, bacteria release acids that break down tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities.

So if there’s a choice between the two, black coffee is much healthier for your teeth than coffee with milk and sugar.

How 320 Dental Studio Can Help

Is your smile stained because of black coffee? Then come see Dr. Joseph Haack our Alexandria dentist for a professional dental cleaning appointment!

You can schedule a visit to 320 Dental Studio online or call us at (320) 763-7484.