At SmileCOS Dentistry, we suggest using a straw when you drink hot or cold beverages. This will keep the liquids that can cause tooth staining away from your teeth. Therefore, using a straw provides an easy way to keep your pearly whites whiter and brighter.
Using a Straw While Drinking Coffee
You can protect your teeth against coffee stains when you use a straw. While it may seem weird, at first, to use a straw when you are drinking warm coffee, you will get used to it. The straw draws the stain-causing beverage toward the back of the mouth, so it does not come into contact with the front teeth. After you drink a beverage, like coffee, rinse your mouth with water, or brush your teeth about an hour after drinking the drink. Do not brush too soon afterward, as doing so can increase the chance of erosion because of the acid in the drink.
Using a Straw While Drinking Tea and Soda
You should also use a straw while drinking tea, as the tannins in the drink—even if it is white tea—will stain the teeth. Therefore, use a straw when drinking hot or cold tea, and rinse the mouth with water after drinking the beverage. You should also use a straw when drinking stain-causing sodas (which are highly acidic).
What You Can Do to Further Reduce Stains
Besides using a straw, you can dilute a liquid's darkness, such as coffee, by adding milk. If you want to drink without a straw, only drink liquids, such as milk or plain water. Both these beverages will never cause stains and therefore can always be safely consumed.
To ensure that you remove surface stains, contact our office for a professional cleaning. We can always set an appointment that will work with your busy schedule. You can maintain a whiter than white smile by using a straw when you drink dark or stain-causing beverages and drinking milk and water regularly.
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