How To Manage Teeth Damaged By Coffee

Most people don't know it, but that daily cup of joe can be quite problematic for your teeth. If you drink enough coffee and don't take the steps necessary to protect your teeth, coffee can lead to problems down the road, like staining and cavities. Here's what you need to know about your daily cup of coffee, how it's impacting your smile, and what you can do to get back to your old appearance.

Appearance

Most people know that coffee stains teeth, but they don't necessarily know how it happens. The truth is, coffee doesn't really 'stain' your teeth; instead, it damages them. When the enamel of your teeth wears down, it reveals yellow and brown surfaces underneath. This is what coffee staining really is. The acidity of coffee damages tooth enamel and weakens it, changing your appearance. This is part of the reason why teeth-whitening often doesn't work on coffee-induced staining, as it can't repair lost enamel.

Damage

Unfortunately, the damage that comes from drinking coffee doesn't necessarily stay as an appearance problem. It can also lead to permanent damage to your teeth if enough enamel is lost. Enamel is the one tool that teeth have to protect themselves from everything you eat and the bacteria that grows naturally in your mouth. When that enamel is lost, the risk of developing cavities and other problems increases exponentially. Thankfully, there's a way to improve your appearance and to help prevent cavities from forming in these areas.

Solution

If your teeth have experienced this kind of damage, consider visiting a cosmetic dentist and getting veneers. Dental veneers are remarkable tools that are available at cosmetic dentists' offices. These small slivers of porcelain are attached to the front of your teeth and help to make them look white, even, and perfectly spaced. They can hide the fact that your teeth were ever impacted by coffee and restore your smile to its old appearance.

Veneers also help to act as a layer of protection once they're on. They adhere with dental cement so that there's no space left between the veneer and the front of your teeth. Any weakened enamel on the front of the tooth will receive an extra layer of protection from the veneer, dramatically decreasing the risk of you developing sensitivity or a cavity in the said tooth.

Coffee isn't the best thing for your mouth, but it can also be a difficult habit to give up. If you're now worried about your teeth, talk with an office like The Smile Architects.


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