Good oral hygiene is necessary to your appearance, particularly when you are smiling. It is also necessary to your ongoing health; oral cancer, bad breath and gum disease may result from poor oral hygiene. And if you are a coffee drinker, you need to be even more careful. Coffee can contribute to the buildup of plaque and tartar and accelerate the progression of gum disease.
Gum Disease
Gum disease appears in two forms: gingivitis, an inflammation of your gums caused by plaque, and periodontitis, a more advanced version of gingivitis that results in a gap between your teeth and your gums. Gum disease, when caught in the gingivitis stage, can be treated and, in the future, prevented. Periodontitis, on the other hand, is more difficult to treat and, due to the gap between the teeth and gums, may cause your teeth to become loose and fall out.
Coffee
Coffee affects your mouth in two primary ways. First, it lowers the temperature of your mouth and gums. Second, coffee reduces the blood flow to your gums. The combination of lowered temperature and restricted blood flow means your gums do not get all of the necessary oxygen they need to continue functioning properly. While this will not directly cause gingivitis or periodontitis, it can contribute to declining gum health.
Saliva
Your saliva contains oxygen and specialized enzymes. This combination naturally prevents gum disease by killing the unnecessary bacteria within your mouth. But certain behaviors can cause you to dehydrate and reduce the amount of saliva you produce. Caffeinated products, especially coffee, will contribute to a lack of hydration in your body and cause you to produce less saliva, increasing your chances to develop gum disease.
Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine is a popular antimicrobial mouthwash used to treat gingivitis, and it is only available by prescription. If your dentist prescribes you a mouthwash with chlorhexidine, you should wait at least two to three hours after using the mouthwash before drinking coffee, or even avoid coffee completely. Chlorhexidine binds to tannins, which are found in coffee; this binding can result in tooth staining and usually needs to be removed by a dentist.
Lichen Planus
Lichen Planus, or LP, is an inflammatory disease that impacts your skin or your mouth, and sometimes both. If your gums are infected with LP, they will appear redder than usual and exhibit yellowish ulcers. LP can be treated topically or orally, but if left unchecked, may lead to gum disease. In these cases, you should avoid coffee, as coffee’s caffeine content will aggravate the ulcers.
References
- Patient UK: Dental Plaque and Gum Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Periodontal Disease - Prevention
- HealthMad: Proper Brushing of Teeth for Swollen Gums and Gingivitis
- The Mouth Doctor: Gum Health Deterioration May Spell Big Trouble in Future
- American Academy of Dermatology: Lichen Planus
