A cup of Joe of every morning may well be just what the doctor ordered! Hope Gillette, award-winning author and contributor for VOXXI, writes that a Boston University study has revealed coffee’s ability to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gingivitis. The study is the latest in a decade-long quest to discover more of coffee’s health benefits:
Coffee contains the antioxidants caffeic acid, caffeine, the chlorogenic acids, eugenol, gamma-tocopherol, isoeugenol, p-coumaric acid, scopoletin and tannic acid, many of which are considered basic antioxidants needed in a daily diet. This is good news for the millions of coffee drinkers in the world who many not be getting enough antioxidants through fruits and vegetables but who remember to drink their coffee everyday (sic).
Despite the positive results, dentists are still iffy about recommending coffee at least once a day to prevent dental problems. For all its antioxidant properties, coffee still contains large amounts of caffeine. In addition, coffee is still one of the primary causes of tooth discoloration among adults, which makes the services of a cosmetic dentist in Newport Beach, like Dr. F. Anthony Rich, all the more important. Perhaps a better way to put it is that while coffee is indeed healthy, people should drink it in moderation.
Contrary to what most people think, teeth are not completely flat and smooth. The ‘enamel’ or outer layer of a tooth is actually composed of microscopic pits that regularly fill up with tiny bits of food. This wouldn’t be a concern with timely and adequate oral care, but coffee, tea, citrus juices, and other pigment-containing beverages are another matter entirely. Short of visiting a dentist for a tooth cleaning or whitening procedure, the best way for people to steer clear of coffee stains on teeth is to brush after drinking before permanent discoloration sets in.
Apart from good oral hygiene, a visit to a Newport Beach cosmetic dentistry practice is also a must. In-house whitening procedures not only treat the discolored enamel but also targets the ‘dentin’ or the inner layer to remove intrinsic stains. Whether the treatment involves simple bleaching or state-of-the-art enamel microabrasion techniques, in-office whitening is miles better than what most commercially available teeth whitening products bring to the table.
Given the latest findings on coffee’s health benefits, it would not at all be surprising for more people to enjoy this stimulating beverage more frequently. Fortunately, cosmetic dentists offer effective solutions for tooth discoloration.
(Source: Could drinking coffee be good for your teeth?, VOXXI, August 27, 2014)