Your guide to coffee and teeth: Which diet choices cause staining?

Before we show you how to remove and how to prevent coffee stains on teeth, let’s explore the main culprits of dietary tooth staining and answer some of the questions at the forefront of your mind such as, “can tea stain your teeth”:

• Coffee: So, does coffee stain teeth? Yes! Coffee is one of the top causes of tooth discoloration. ³ Having a coffee stain on your teeth is common for all coffee lovers who drink at least one cup a day.
• Tea: Yes, tea stains teeth too, gradually turning them brown like coffee does. ⁴ It may surprise you to discover that even teas like green tea and herbal tea, which are considered to be more healthy drink options, can also lead to tooth staining.
• Red wine: Red wine may be known to be particularly staining on textiles and furniture, but did you know it can also inflict damage on our teeth? ⁵ If you drink red wine very regularly, your teeth might end up with dark staining.

From dark stains to white stains, stains caused by tobacco products ⁶ and more, there are a few reasons your teeth may end up with staining.

Why do wine, coffee, and tea stain teeth?

The food and drinks we consume come into direct contact with the surface of the enamel, which is slightly porous. But why do you end up staining your teeth? Here are a few reasons why certain dietary choices result in a less-than-white smile, including coffee-stained teeth:

• Food and drinks which are acidic, or are consumed with other acidic foods, can weaken your tooth enamel.
• Tooth enamel is already porous, and when weakened it becomes more vulnerable to stains. ⁷
• Certain drinks such as coffee contain tannins which – while having antioxidant properties – are known to cause tooth staining. ⁸ 

It is therefore not surprising that, if we consume a staining food or drink regularly, our teeth will become stained. Read on to discover how to remove coffee stains from teeth and prevent further staining in the future. 

How to remove coffee stains from teeth 

With around 98 million cups of coffee being consumed daily in the UK, ⁹ it won’t be surprising if you are one of 51% of adults drinking coffee as part of your daily routine. ¹² It’s likely you’ll face coffee staining at some points, so here are our simple steps for how to remove coffee stains from teeth:

1. Brush your teeth.
   Nothing is more effective against a coffee stain on your tooth than simply brushing your teeth. To ensure this step doesn’t do more harm than good, be sure to wait 20 minutes before brushing your teeth and use a toothbrush suited to your needs. 
   Tip: We recommend the Philips Sonicare ExpertClean. It can help to remove 10x more plaque and coffee stains from your teeth while taking care of your gums and guiding you through your oral routine thanks to its connected app.
   
   
2. Use a whitening product. 
   There are several over-the-counter teeth whitening products such as whitening toothpaste and strips available in the UK. ¹⁰ However, take care to avoid purchasing them online as tests have shown that some of these products contain illegal and dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide. ¹¹ 
   
   

Whilst DIY teeth whitening is an option, ensure you always use these products safely. They should be used sparingly and always within the guidelines provided by the manufacturer to prevent enamel damage due to their abrasive effect.

Now that you know how easy it is to remove coffee stains on your teeth, read on for our guide on how to avoid coffee stains on teeth to keep your pearly whites just that – white.