If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you probably know how difficult it can be to go for an entire day without that boost of delicious caffeine. However, if you have a dental appointment, whether it’s just a regular cleaning or something more extensive, it may be advisable to skip that morning cup of coffee to help ensure your teeth get the proper care they need.
Though there aren’t any specific studies that dictate what you should and should not eat or drink before a dental appointment, coffee can stain teeth and decrease the effectiveness of cleaning agents that may be used during your dental appointment, This is because coffee is usually a more acidic type of drink and can hinder the chemical reactions needed for whitening agents to take maximum effect.
Instead of coffee, however, something that is less harsh on the teeth like lightly colored tea or just plain water are probably the best beverages to drink before a dental appointment without adding on to already present stains and damage to the teeth.
Can You Drink Coffee Before a Dentist Appointment
Generally it’s recommended to stay away from coffee before a dental appointment because it can further stain teeth and reduce the effectiveness of a proper teeth cleaning and whitening session.
In fact, long term coffee use can actually have some severe effects on teeth like erosion of enamel and extensive staining of teeth that would require professional cleaning to properly treat.
However, if you simply can’t stay away from your morning cup of fresh coffee, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the negative effects that coffee may have on your teeth before a dental appointment. The most important things you can do is to wash your mouth out with warm water after drinking coffee and to simply brush your teeth with a high fluoride containing toothpaste.
How Long After a Dentist Appointment Can I Drink Coffee
After a proper dental cleaning, it’s important to wait at least four hours before drinking coffee. This is because dental cleanings can leave teeth feeling sensitive and more prone to injury from acidic foods and beverages, due to an increase of pores within the teeth. And because coffee is already acidic, it can really reverse a proper dental cleaning.
Also, once you start drinking coffee again it’s important to maintain your oral health to ensure your teeth stay white and polished for as long as possible. This means washing your mouth with warm water after drinking coffee, brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride fortified toothpaste, flossing daily, and attending regularly scheduled dental check-up appointments. This way you can continue enjoying your favorite caffeine booster while ensuring your teeth stay clean and healthy. For information please visit our dentists in Mansfield MA.
