To have white teeth, you do not have to give up coffee or red wine completely. Many people with white teeth still drink coffee. However, coffee can potentially discolor your teeth over time, more for some people than others.
It is generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours after teeth whitening before drinking coffee. This is because the pigments in coffee can potentially stain your teeth, and the whitening treatment may have made your teeth more susceptible to staining.
After whitening treatment, your teeth will be dehydrated and vulnerable to staining. Newly whitened teeth are porous, absorbing liquid easily, potentially creating deep stains. Berries, coffee, tea, and wine are the first foods you want to avoid.
How Long After Teeth Whitening Can I Drink Coffee?
You should wait at least two days before you drink any coffee. It might also be best to avoid coffee for longer than that to be safe. It takes time for your teeth to rehydrate and stop absorbing liquid so easily.
You might avoid coffee completely for two days and then be careful with it for a few more days. If you drink iced coffee through a straw, you can minimize the drink’s contact with your teeth. No one normally drinks red wine through a straw, but straws can help keep your teeth white.
Tea is Better Than Coffee
Coffee contains tannins, which can gradually make your teeth yellower over time. Green tea is a lot better and won’t stain your teeth. Darker-colored teas may cause discoloration; the same goes for sports drinks.
Green tea can be as good as coffee after you start drinking it. It doesn’t have as much caffeine but still contains enough caffeine to give you energy. People also like coffee because they like drinking a hot liquid; green tea can be just as enjoyable.
Tea is also calming, so green tea can give you a more mellow energy boost than coffee. White wine can be just as enjoyable as red wine and won’t affect your teeth.
Any drink that contains a lot of food coloring might stain your teeth. A bright blue sports drink might stain your teeth if you drink it often. Food coloring is not completely harmless.
If you have had your teeth whitened in the last two or three days, avoid coffee completely. If it has been longer than that, being a bit careful is probably good enough.
Even doing as little as drinking your coffee faster so that it doesn’t remain in contact with your teeth for too long can prevent staining. You only have to be careful not to stain your teeth in the short run.
Avoid Tobacco After You Get Your Teeth Whitened
Quitting smoking, though important, is not easy. If you are not going to stop smoking very soon, you might still be able to quit for a few days. Tobacco will stain your teeth easily if you have just had your teeth whitened. Chewing tobacco can also stain your teeth. Try quitting for a few days, even if it is challenging.
Some medications can stain your teeth and should be avoided for at least a few days after a whitening treatment. Even some mouth rinses can cause stains if your teeth are vulnerable enough to staining. Talk to your dentist about any medications you use.
Longer-Term Care
If your teeth do not stain easily, you might be able to drink coffee without repeatedly discoloring your teeth. Infrequent and inexpensive whitening treatments might be enough. However, if your teeth stain more easily, you might have to take precautions to prevent staining.
You might drink dark-colored beverages like coffee, dark tea, red wine, and soft drinks out of a straw and not let much of the liquid touch your teeth. You can also brush your teeth immediately after eating/drinking anything that might stain your teeth.
After drinking coffee, drinking a bit of water is a good idea, even if your last whitening treatment was weeks or months ago. Rinse out your mouth if you can’t brush it right away. If the coffee doesn’t touch your teeth for long, it might not be able to stain them.
Good dental hygiene can also prevent your teeth from becoming discolored over time, plus prevent more serious problems. Get your teeth cleaned professionally, remember to floss and not only brush, and don’t eat a high-sugar diet.
Even with good hygiene, your teeth might slowly discolor, so you may need an occasional whitening treatment.
