WOKE AND WHITEN
- Brittney Duong
- May 3, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: May 8, 2019
Your caffeine addiction could be the reason your teeth are turning yellow !!!!
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. That's your 7 am alarm ringing AGAIN. Thinking about how your 8 am is in Campbell Hall (alllll the way over there) is already making you exhausted. So, what is the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Brush your teeth or make a cup of coffee?
WHAT ABOUT ICED TEA-TH?
If you're not a coffee person, you must be a tea person. Right? The second you walk on the UCSB campus, you'll see at least 3 cans of Yerba Mate being consumed. Whether it's for an 8am, a study session, or an all nighter, Yerba is our go-to.
So now you're thinking, if coffee makes my teeth yellow then I'll just switch to tea. Unfortunately, like alcohol, Yerba Mate can lead to tooth decay and cavities due to the high levels of added sugar, and on top of that it can stain your teeth too.
Oh. You don't want yellow teeth? Well, lucky you there are many ways to prevent it.
THE TOOTH BEHIND TANNINS
All of our favorite drinks-coffee, wine, beer, and tea-contain tannins. Tannins are a naturally occurring organic substance found in plants. They cause the bitter flavor and dark color in teas and wines and they can turn your teeth yellow when they build up on your enamel.
You don't need to channel your inner organic chemist to understand the effects of tannins on your teeth. Tannins are acidic compounds. Acids break down the enamel of your teeth. Pigments and dyes in coffee and tea stick to the weakened enamel, which leaves a behind the yellow hue we are all familiar with.
It only takes one cup of coffee a day to stain teeth, and most of us (including myself) are drinking multiple cups a day to stay awake!
Tip: Be prepared by bringing disposable toothbrushes when you know you're going to be drinking a whole lot of coffee and Yerba to pull an all nighter in the Lib
Tannins cause extrinsic stains, staining on only the surface of the teeth. Without proper care extrinsic stains can accumulate within the enamel and turn into intrinsic stains.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT STAINING AND DISCOLORATION
EAT VEGGIES AND FRUITS before you sip coffee or tea because they coat your teeth with a protective film that can prevent staining
HYDRATE after you sip coffee or tea to wash down excess tannins and stimulate saliva to neutralize acids
BRUSH YOUR TEETH daily to prevent the tannins from building up on your enamel
GET SOME SLEEP so you don't have to resort to caffeine to feel alive, drinking coffee and tea less will decrease the amount of tannins available to build up
Extrinsic stains can easily be treated with proper daily care but once they develop into intrinsic stains, professional cleaning may be required. So, if you make the effort to follow these steps, you'll have those pearly whites in no time!
Tip: Use a (re-useable) straw to prevent direct contact with your teeth!
SAY CHEESE!
I don't want teeth as yellow as cheddar cheese and I doubt you do either. Yellow teeth can cause embarrassment and makes you self conscious. But, as you age your teeth do too and naturally yellow over time.
While some discoloration is normal, actually yellow or brown teeth isn't. So, take my advice on the many ways to prevent staining your teeth.
Yes, you can grab another cup of coffee from the Arbor! Yes, you can drink another Yerba!
Just as long as you make the effort to take care of your teeth everyday!
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