Coffee and Your Teeth

It comes as no to surprise to anyone that coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in America, sitting right there next to soda, water, and beer. Unfortunately, most of the coffee people consume falls into the category of “unhealthy” right there next to soda and beer (well, domestic light beer). Water is truly the only good thing in that category.

That is, unless you drink your coffee black.

The biggest reason coffee isn’t great for you is the added sugars. Not enough people try to enjoy their coffee without additives simply because it’s harder to get into and develop a palate for. It’s not that surprising, though, considering wine and beer and other alcohol is very similar: drinking it as it is takes a lot of time and attempts before you learn to enjoy it, understand the nuances, and branch out.

Well, coffee’s the same in that drinking it black is quite bitter and harsh on the tongue when first trying it. So what do most people do? They add cream or sugar or get it at Starbucks in the form of some latte or macchiato.

So how do these sorts of coffee affect your teeth for the worst?

For starters, all that extra sugar is extremely harmful to your teeth if you don’t rinse it off after finishing your coffee or brushing your teeth. The sugars are able to sit on your teeth and start the process of decay if not taken care of properly. And since coffee already has tannins in it that can stain your teeth, the chances of sugar coating your teeth are even higher already. So, not only are these glorified coffees bad for your teeth because of the sugar; they can also stain your teeth if you drink a few cups a day.

But I’m not here to decry coffee as some sort of bad drink. It really isn’t, so long as you consume the unhealthier varians in moderation. I would advise looking into drinking your coffee straight as it is not only for the health of your teeth but also for learning more about different strains of coffee and truly enjoying the drink to its fullest potential.

Like most other things, however, the majority of people want things spoon fed to them in a way that can be enjoyed immediately. Few go out of their way to try something as it really is, and that’s the way of the world I probably won’t ever be able to change.

Should Adults Get Braces?

From time to time, I see a perfect set of teeth just out on the streets, and it makes me slightly wish that mine were also stark white and aligned to perfection. It also makes me think back to my childhood when I knew that my teeth weren’t as straight as they could be but I couldn’t get braces since they were expensive for my parents. And I understood why they made that choice, because I truly didn’t “need” them. If it wasn’t a necessity, we likely didn’t get stuff when younger (which I completely agree with now as an adult).

Still, I wonder about if I had gotten them. I’m almost positive that my teeth would be healthier because of the braces. It’s not all about the looks, you see. It’s about easier maintenance with the teeth too. Since some of my teeth slightly overlap (it’s not really noticeable at a glance though), it makes it harder to reach between those gaps with floss and a toothbrush. As such, the dental hygienist usually has to spend a little more time picking at the tartar between those teeth.

But here and now, I have to remind myself that it’s still possible to get braces, even if not the traditional kind, to help sort out my slightly jagged bottom row. I forget that it’s still an option and wonder if it’s for me.

The biggest reason I tell myself it’s not needed is because I’ve learned to manage without them all my life and keep my teeth in fairly good shape and because I don’t have the money for them. The second most important reason I don’t get braces is because I’m quite happy with my smile and having it perfected won’t change much in my life.

But for anyone out there wondering if they should get some, I encourage you to ask yourself if it’s a necessity: will the braces help your dental health more because of the change? Will your teeth looking better, whiter, and straighter help out your self confidence and self esteem? Will this enable you to eat more foods freely without worry of them getting stuck?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you should consider braces or the many alternatives. Dentists and orthodontists are just as willing to work with adults regarding braces as they are to work with kids. Just because you’ve passed the traditional age of getting braces doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible.