Cappuccino or latte? As the gourmet coffee and tea craze continues, and consumption for fall and winter months increases, connoisseurs may get more than they bargained for - stained teeth.
"During cooler weather, people will drink more hot liquids, especially coffee or tea, to warm themselves up, but they do not realize that the tannic acid found in these liquids is often a prime cause of tooth discoloration," said E. "Mac" Edington, DDS, MAGD, president of the Academy of General Dentistry.
When coffee or tea lingers in the mouth and is not rinsed away, over time, the tannic acid or "tannins," etch into the pits and grooves of the tooth's enamel -- in turn producing a rough, stained surface.
Try drinking coffee or tea through a straw, because the liquid will only touch a targeted area, instead of all front surface teeth, advises Dr. Edington. Also, if consumers are a seasonal or daily coffee or tea drinker, they should always brush their teeth or dentures or rinse with water afterwards to flush out the tannic acid.
To safely cover or remove coffee or tea stains, consumers should visit the dentist for a professional cleaning every three to six months, depending on the severity of staining. If the discoloration persists, consumers can opt to try a dentist-supervised bleaching technique. The dentist will help the patient hand pick the correct shade, make a custom-fit bleaching tray and supervise their home bleaching procedure.
