Are you a coffee fiend? Does that first cup of joe in the morning fuel your spirit for the remainder of the day? Or maybe you prefer green tea—warm or chilled, it calms, soothes, and recharges your batteries. These two beverages are widely popular for their propensity to make us feel good, but have you ever thought about what they might be doing to your teeth? Evidence shows that both coffee and green tea can help to protect us from tooth decay, but according to your Houston dentist, you might want to be a little careful.
Does Coffee Prevent Tooth Decay?
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed products in the world—you can get it any time, any place, or any way you want it, which leads to us having roughly 400 billion cups annually! Studies have shown, however, that when coffee is consumed without additives (black coffee), the amount of measurable decay is considerably lower than when coffee with things like milk, cream, or sugar. This means that drinking black roasted coffee is hardly detrimental to your oral health, compared to drinking sweetened coffee. Although it doesn’t actively prevent or combat tooth decay, opting to have your coffee black does provide a small degree of protection.
How Does Green Tea Help My Mouth?
Green tea has long been lauded as beneficial to our health; it helps against inflammation, it fights against bacterial infections, and it is rich in antioxidants. But it is also extremely useful when it comes to protecting our teeth, as it lowers the acidity of our saliva and helps keep the bacteria in our mouths under control. Additionally, it can help prevent inflamed gums, tooth loss, and even cancer. Not to mention it will kill many of the microbes that make your breath stinky, even outperforming breath mints!
Can These Drinks Harm My Teeth?
As with anything you imbibe, you must be cautious; while drinking coffee or green tea can sometimes benefit your oral health, there are some potentially harmful effects, too. Drinking your coffee with milk, creamer, or anything with sugar greatly increases the risk of tooth decay or cavities forming. Both coffee and green tea can also stain or discolor your teeth, but this chance is reduced if you use a drinking straw.
Although the best methods for preventing tooth decay, cavities, and stained teeth often stem from good hygiene and regular habits, drinking black coffee or green tea could provide a little bit of added protection.
About the Author
Dr. Mark Lawton completed his D.D.S. at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School and has been practicing dentistry for almost 20 years. He also attended the Meikai Dental School and Asahi Dental School in Japan, and he strives to remain up to date with the constant advancements and changes in dentistry. If you have any questions about the article or would like to contact Dr. Lawton, you can reach him at his website or (281)-447-2186.