How long to wait before brushing your teeth after drinking coffee?


Brushing your teeth immediately after drinking coffee is not advisable, as coffee is acidic and it takes about half an hour for salivary proteins to neutralize this acid in the mouth. Brushing your teeth immediately after drinking coffee can result in the acid being pushed into the pores of your teeth.

For those who add a significant amount of milk to their coffee, there is good news. According to clinical assistant professor at the New York University School of Dentistry, Vera Tang, milk reduces the acidity of coffee, which can be beneficial for teeth.

However, the expert's recommendation is to rinse the mouth with just water after drinking coffee, in order to rinse the acid present in the mouth. In addition, it is advisable to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth, even for those who consume more milk than coffee.

 

The sugar

In fact, coffee is not harmless for your teeth and can be associated with stains and dental problems. One of the concerns is related to the addition of sugar in the drink, especially when consumed throughout the day.

The clinical assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of New York, Vera Tang, points out that the sugar present in coffee can be more harmful than the acidity of the drink. Prolonged consumption of sweetened coffee throughout the day may increase the risk of tooth decay.

A tip provided by the expert is to drink coffee all at once, within a period of five to 10 minutes, instead of consuming it throughout the day. This is because the slow and steady consumption of sugar, as happens when drinking sweetened coffee throughout the day, can do more damage to your teeth than a single quick exposure to the substance.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of the effects of sugar in coffee and consider ways to reduce consumption throughout the day in order to preserve dental health.