If you fall into the category of people that depend on caffeine to get you through your day, you may have been noticing the impact caffeine has been making on your teeth. These effects are unwanted, much like the effects you are seeing on your waist line from your sanyo rice cooker! However, there are preventative steps you can take to maintain the color of your teeth.
The most productive preventative measure you can take is to cut out, or cut down on these drinks. However, if you are dependent on caffeine to get you through your day this is probably a non-option. The next best thing would be to brush your teeth after you have one such drink.
If you are not ready to pull out your toothbrush a few times a day at the office, drink water. Not only should you drink water but swish it around in your mouth after a meal or a caffeinated drink. Swish for as long as you would combine a cake batter with a kitchen hand mixer. This will wash away the film that builds up on your teeth causing stains.
Crunchy fruits and vegetables can help remove this film as well. Apples, celery and carrots are a few examples of food that can help get rid of this film. These foods should not be soft, like they’ve just come out of a roasting pan, but very firm and crunchy.
The effects of caffeinated drinks on your teeth can be lowered if you drink them through a straw. A straw will help a drink pass through to the back of your mouth quickly, lessening the contact it has with your teeth. This can be great for cold drinks, but you probably do not want to drink your coffee through a straw unless it’s an ice-coffee!
If you do not have a straw, or you are drinking a hot drink, don’t let the liquid hang out in your mouth. This will give it a chance to ‘color’ your teeth. Move the liquid to the back of your mouth as quickly and safely as possible.
Chewing sugar free gum after drinks or meals can also help reduce teeth staining. Remember, none of these methods are substitutes for brushing. These tips are only for you when it is absolutely impossible to brush!