For many of us, our days don’t really get started until we’re nursing that first (or second or third!) cup of coffee. Whether that’s the first thing you hunt down when you open your eyes in the morning, or if you’re a whirlwind of getting kids ready for school before you catch that first coffee on the way to the office, coffee is the de facto morning drink for many Canadians. But while it gives many of us the jolt we need to get going, coffee also stains your teeth. Here are a few coffee alternatives that you might consider that won’t dull your bright white smile.
We Drink HOW MUCH Coffee?!?
Do you ever wonder how much coffee Canadians drink each year? Well, our friends at Tim Horton’s report that they serve two billion (that’s 2,000,000,000!) coffees on an annual basis. They also claim that they serve a whopping 80% of coffees in Canada, which would mean that we consume some 2.5 billion coffees a year. With teeth whitening so near and dear to our hearts, thinking about our Canadian brothers and sisters drinking that much evil teeth stainer is enough to bring a tear to our dental eye!
What You Should Drink Instead of Coffee
Tea is a common alternative for coffee, but you have to be careful which tea you switch to because many of the darker teas can also stain your teeth.
The most common tea is orange pekoe (this is probably what you’ll get if you ask for tea but don’t specify which kind) but other types of dark tea that can stain your teeth are English Breakfast and Earl Grey.
If you’re going to try and make the switch from coffee to tea, go for a peppermint tea or a green tea. These teas don’t have the same dark particles that can get caught in the enamel of your teeth, making them lose their brightness and look dull and yellowed.
One downside of making the switch from coffee to tea is that tea doesn’t contain anywhere near as much caffeine as coffee, so they won’t give your body that much appreciated kickstart. Apart from staining your teeth, there are many other adverse health effects of consuming high levels of caffeine, so cutting down on the caffeine and coffee makes sense on many levels. Giving up caffeine is tough for a lot of people – and many people will eventually switch back to coffee – but stick with it for as long as you can and you’ll crave it less the longer you go without it.
Other drinks you could drink in the morning are cold water and add some fruits and berries if you’d like a subtle sweet taste. If you like hot drinks, hot water with a squeeze of lemon might fit the bill. In small quantities you could drink fruit juices, although some fruit juices can be high in sugar and the acid in them can also weaken the enamel on your teeth, so don’t overdo the amount of juice you drink.
Orion Dental Offers Teeth Whitening
If you’ve indulged in coffee or dark teas for many years and you’re looking for a way to whiten your teeth, look no further than Orion Dental!
We offer different teeth whitening options depending on how fast you want it done or what your budget is.
The fastest option of teeth whitening is the Philips Zoom! system. With a single two-hour trip into either of our Scarborough or Milton offices, we can make your smile considerably brighter. This is perfect if you’re looking for a fast way to whiten your teeth if you have a wedding, graduation or other family event coming up that you want to look great for.
Alternatively, we do offer take-home teeth whitening kits, but higher quality and more effective than what you’ll find at the drug store. They take a long time before you’ll start noticing your whiter smile, but they don’t cost as much.
