Table of Contents
Introduction
Coffee is a very delightful and beloved beverage for teens, adults and almost every age group. But what if you recently passed from an orthodontic treatment and you had recently put on braces? For those who drink coffee on a daily basis and are now facing this kind of oral health issue, a very common concern is generated in their minds can you drink coffee with braces?
In this article, we are going to find out the answer to our query and also explore all necessary information regarding whether you can you drink coffee with braces.
What are braces and how do they work
Some people have teeth misaligning issues and because of that, they face many difficulties like improper biting and improper hygiene. To counter these kinds of issues, an orthodontic device known as braces is used. It consists of metal and ceramic brackets that are joined to teeth and make a complete pattern by wires. These braces applied force to move teeth into the correct position. We have different types of braces treatments, like…
- Metal braces
- Ceramic braces
- Lingual braces
- Invisalign or clear aligners
Each type of brace required maintenance for proper functioning. Improper maintenance or carelessness can cause multiple problems like plaque buildup, damage and discoloration. In terms of beverage consideration, coffee contains acids, sugar and dark pigment, which can generate a negative impact on braces treatment.
Why oral hygiene is crucial with braces
Another important factor that is also necessary to understand before going towards can you drink coffee with braces? is why oral hygiene is crucial with braces.
After getting braces, it has now become more important to maintain oral hygiene because braces create tight spaces and additional surfaces in which food particles, plaque and bacteria can easily get stuck and cause the following…
- It can produce cavities and can be the reason for tooth decay.
- It can cause gum inflammation.
- It can cause permanent stains or can generate white spots.
- Also can be the reason of bad breath.
The risk is increased if we drink coffee over braces. Coffee beverages are well known for staining teeth and weakening enamel. This may discolor braces from different areas of brackets.
Can you drink coffee with braces
Now, after reading the above articles, every coffee lover who recently got braces is definitely curious and worried about drinking coffee.
So can you drink coffee with braces? Don’t worry, the answer is YES. You can drink coffee with braces, but there are some cautions too, which are necessary to consider. Otherwise, it will generate problems for you.
Risk of drinking coffee with braces
After getting the answer of can you drink coffee with braces, now let’s explore what are risks of drinking coffee over braces.
Teeth staining
The most common and easily observable impact is tooth discoloration. This is because of tannins that are naturally present in coffee. Braces have wires that allow these tannins to settle down and these tannins cause dark staining on teeth, which can grasp and store up enamel over time.
Continuously drinking coffee over braces can lead to uneven staining which means once you remove your braces, you will find out about the proper visible white and darkened yellow contrast. And then you have to take tooth whitening treatment.
Sugar and acidic impact
Another major risk that counters our query, can you drink coffee with braces, is the sugar and acidic impact on braces. We all know that sugar and acidic compounds are naturally present in coffee, which makes it delicious but will also threaten your gum health.
When you consume coffee on a daily basis, its acidic compounds will damage tooth enamel over time. Because of sugar, chances of bacteria or plaque buildup will increase. In short, for people who have braces, sugar and acidic compounds can create long term dental issues like inflamed gums, white spots on teeth and tooth decay.
Coffee and orthodontic adhesive
Apart from acid or sugar, the hotness of coffee can also damage your orthodontic treatment. Braces are joined with wires and strong adhesive but are not invincible. These bonding agents may weaken or be damaged by the heat of hot coffee, causing looseness in brackets.
How can you drink coffee with braces safely
After can you drink coffee with braces, the second query that comes in coffee consumers mind are who can you drink it safely with braces. So, the methods are as follows
By using a straw
The first suggestion in our list is using a straw. By using a straw, you can directly drink coffee without the coffee interacting with your teeth and braces. It will reduce staining and acid erosion risk. All you have to do is…
- Take a reusable heat safe straw.
- Put in the coffee.
- Just take a sip.
Rinse or Brush after drinking
The second option that we suggested to our readers is to properly rinse and brush after drinking. Coffee residue causes dark pigments and acids to the enamel. Rinsing your mouth with water or brushing your teeth just after consuming coffee can minimize the chances of discoloration and bacteria or plaque buildup. All you have to do is…
- After drinking coffee, rinse with water without wasting any time.
- After approx. 20 to 30 minutes, brush your teeth.
Use limited quantity and frequency
As we discussed above, coffee contains acids and sugar, which can cause several negative impacts. Consuming coffee with high frequency can significantly increase this risk factor. As a preventive action, try to consume a limited quantity of coffee with a limited frequency. You have to consider the following tips.
- Firstly, make a habit of drinking coffee once a day.
- It is considered good if you take a fast sip because slow drinking can allow acids to interact with teeth and braces for an extended time period.
Choose coffee with less sugar
It is also a good option if you prefer coffee with less sugar instead of highly sweetened, acidic coffee. Coffee drinks like lattes, iced mochas and frappes have high sugar compounds and are considered dangerous because of the high sugar.
Instead of consuming these, you can prefer those kinds of coffee that are less acidic and have less sugar. Some of the examples are
- Black coffee
- Cold brew
- Or coffee, which is made up of natural sweetener, no additional sweetener is used.