Coffee stains on teeth? Treat and remove coffee stains from teeth

Reading time: 7 Min

Keeping a bright smile may be one of our top goals when we brush our teeth, but elements of our diet, including crowd favourites like coffee, can work against us. In this article, we’ll explore questions like ‘Can coffee stain your teeth’ as well as offer top tips for how to remove coffee stains from teeth including:

Drinking water
Drinking through a straw
Brushing your teeth
Teeth whitening

In addition, we’ll show you which foods and products stain the most and how to prevent coffee stains on your teeth in the future.

Coffee and tea staining: 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 coffee stain your teeth’ and ‘Can tea stain your teeth’:

Coffee: So, does coffee stain teeth? Yes! Coffee is one of the top causes of tooth discoloration.¹ Having a coffee stain on your teeth is common for all coffee lovers who drink at least one cup a day. If you’re curious why, stick with us until the next section.
Tea: Yes, tea stains teeth too, gradually turning them brown like coffee does.² 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?³ 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 ⁴ and more, there are a few reasons your teeth may end up with staining.

Why do wine, tea, and coffee 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.⁵
Certain drinks such as coffee contain tannins which – while having antioxidant properties – are known to cause tooth staining.⁶

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,⁷ it wouldn’t be surprising if you are among the over 30% of coffee drinkers who enjoy several cups a day.¹⁰ It’s likely you’ll face coffee staining at some point, so here are our simple steps for how to remove coffee stains from teeth:

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 DiamondClean Prestige electric toothbrush. That removes up to 20x more plaque – even in hard-to-reach areas – and can help with keeping your teeth clean and stain-free.
Use a whitening product
There are several over-the-counter teeth whitening products such as whitening toothpaste and strips available in the UK.⁸However, take care to avoid purchasing them online as tests have shown that some of these products contain illegal and dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide.⁹

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.

How to prevent coffee stains on teeth

If you’re wondering how to drink coffee without staining your teeth, we’ve got you covered. Here are some simple tips to help you understand how to prevent coffee stains on your teeth:

Book regular appointments with your dental hygienist. They can not only help to clean and polish your teeth, but also give you advice for oral care specific to the individual state of your oral health.
Maintain regular and efficient toothbrushing. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, following the correct method to brush efficiently. Additionally, don’t forget to clean your interdental spaces.
Drink your coffee through a straw. Coffee and tea staining is often a result of liquid coming into direct contact with your teeth’ enamel. If you’re wondering how to drink coffee without staining teeth, drinking through a straw allows you to direct the liquid away from your teeth and reduce the time that the drink has in contact with them. This will help to prevent coffee stains from forming on your teeth.
Drink water. Water isn’t only great for hydration. It’s also an ideal way to rinse your teeth to remove the staining liquid. Bacteria, acids, and sugars can reside in interdental spaces, and on your tongue. Water can help flush away some of these and help to slow the production of plaque and other sources of staining.

Now you’ve got answers to questions like ‘Does coffee stain your teeth’ and ’Can tea stain your teeth’. We also explored the specific ways you can remove coffee stains on your teeth and how to prevent coffee stains on teeth in the future too. With our simple tips, you now have the chance to enjoy your favourite drink without having to deal with dull or discoloured teeth.

Sources:

¹ Prevention of tea-induced extrinsic tooth stain, National Library of Medicine
² Enamel susceptibility to red wine staining after 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching, National Library of Medicine
³ Smoking and tooth discolouration: findings from a national cross-sectional study, National Library of Medicine
⁴ Extrinsic tooth enamel color changes and their relationship with the quality of water consumed, National Library of Medicine
⁵ Enamel maturation: a brief background with implications for some enamel dysplasias, Frontiers
⁶The Impact on Dental Staining Caused by Beverages in Combination with Chlorhexidine Digluconate, National Library of Medicine
⁷ Coffee Consumption, British Coffee Association
⁸ Teeth whitening, NHS
⁹Don't buy teeth whitening products from online marketplaces, Which
¹⁰ Coffee consumption frequency, Statista

Coffee stains on teeth? Treat and remove coffee stains from teeth

Coffee and tea staining: Which diet choices cause staining?

Why do wine, tea, and coffee stain teeth?

How to remove coffee stains from teeth

How to prevent coffee stains on teeth

Recommended products

Power Flosser 3000

Cordless water flosser with accessories

ProtectiveClean 4300

Black

You may like

Coffee stains on teeth? Treat and remove coffee stains from teeth

Coffee and tea staining: Which diet choices cause staining?

Why do wine, tea, and coffee stain teeth?

How to remove coffee stains from teeth

How to prevent coffee stains on teeth

Recommended products

Power Flosser 3000 Cordless water flosser with accessories

ProtectiveClean 4300 Black

You may like

Power Flosser 3000

Cordless water flosser with accessories

ProtectiveClean 4300

Black