Many people love coffee and cannot start the day without it. But if you are using white strips to whiten your teeth, it can be confusing to know how to combine the two without compromising on your dental hygiene. In this article, we look at the science behind drinking coffee with white strips and provide some advice on how to combine them both with the aim of still getting a healthy, white smile.
White strips are a popular choice for people looking for a fast and affordable way to whiten their teeth. The strips themselves are coated in hydrogen peroxide, which is known to be able to break down unwanted discolourations. These strips work best when used in marked intervals and when limit the consumption of certain food and drinks that may impede the whitening process.
Coffee is known to be an asset to staining teeth, many people look for alternative methods to still get their daily caffeine fix without this happening. One of these people might now be asking, can I drink coffee while using white strips? It’s a tricky question – while it is possible, there are certainly some precautions that should be taken.
Effects of Coffee on White Strips
Scientifically speaking, coffee is a notorious teeth stainer, and dark-colored beverages are renowned for yellowing the whites of teeth over the years. While using white strips, staining can easily occur if coffee is not drunk in moderation. This is because the hydrogen peroxide in the white strips will be more easily offset by the pigments released in high amounts of coffee.
Therefore, if someone does decide to have coffee while using white strips, drinking it without fail will reduce the effects of the white strips and the desired results may no longer be achievable. Coffee should be limited to an acceptable level and, if possible, the white strips should be used in a way that compensates for the effects of the coffee. For example, using the strips in shorter intervals rather than the recommended intervals may yield better results.
Expert Advice and Alternatives
Many dentists recommend that coffee should not be consumed while using white strips and as an alternative, suggests drinking alternative drinks that do not stain. These can include lemon water, black tea, herbal tea or cool mints, which all provide the same refreshment and caffeine kick without the potential repercussions to tooth colour.
It is also important that the brushing, flossing and use of mouthwash is at a regular, consistent level while using the white strips. Doing so will help to reduce the effects of staining from drinking coffee and striving for great oral hygiene is a healthier option than continuing to drink coffee as normal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, coffee and white strips certainly do not need to be mutually exclusive. With the right combination of limiting the amount of coffee, regular breaks between white strip applications, good oral hygiene regimes and sugar-free alternatives, anyone using white strips can still get their daily caffeine fix without compromising their whitened teeth.
Your Diet
The chances of achieving the desired result of whitened teeth while using white strips also comes down to diet. As well as coffee, many common and sugary drinks may impede progress too. Therefore, reducing how much soft drinks, juices and alcohol are consumed as these contain high levels of sugar and can easily stain teeth.
The same rule applies to foods such as sugary sweets or sugary cereals. As mentioned before, white strips are applied to one’s teeth and the higher the level of sugar in consumed food and drinks, the more potential there is for the strips to be ineffective and for discolourations to remain.
The Power of Habits
Finally, forming healthy habits is a great way to make sure that teeth remain white after using white strips. For example, setting alarms in the morning to remind one to brush and floss, or setting an alarm to consume a glass of cool mint after consuming coffee can help create these habits.
Additionally, some reminders can also be useful for motivating you to use your white strips – for example, on the hour every hour. This way, you can ensure that you’re achieving progress as your everyday routine allows. Luckily, making commitments to healthy habits is also proven to be very effective in the long run.
Teeth Whitening Products
In addition to white strips, there are a plethora of different teeth whitening products available on the market. Some of these include toothpaste, gels, laser teeth whitening and charcoal toothpastes. All of these products have varying levels of effectiveness, so it is recommended to consult with a professional before using them.
It’s also important to remember that teeth whitening products are not a long-term solution. In order to maintain a white, healthy smile, the above statements and regular habits still apply – that is, limiting foods and drinks that cause staining, maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, and using teeth whitening products when needed.
Tooth Whitening Habits
In order to get the best results when using white strips, it’s important to develop a good routine to stick with. For example, it might be useful to plan when to use the strips, for how long and how often. This will help to create a consistent and healthy routine.
It’s also a good idea to try and find a time in the day when using them is less likely to be disrupted. For example, it could be a good idea to use the white strips at night time when it’s unlikely that someone will be drinking coffee, eating or indulging in other habits that might be detrimental to their dental hygiene.
Conclusion
Overall, using white strips with coffee is a tricky situation. With the right combination of limiting the amount of coffee, regular breaks between white strip applications and good oral hygiene, anyone using white strips can still get their daily caffeine fix without compromising their whitened teeth. However, it’s important to understand that teeth whitening products aren’t a long-term solution, and developing healthy habits and regimes, such as brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding sugary foods and drinks and forming good tooth whitening habits, will still be an important part of achieving a healthy, white smile.
