Coffee--that warm rich drink that perks you up and gets you going. Could you live without it? Would you ever want to live without it? From your dentist's point of view, you might want to try. Here are four benefits of kicking your coffee habit from your dentist's point of view.

Whiter Teeth That Are Easier to Whiten

Coffee turns teeth yellow--so yellow, in fact, that you might be mistaken for a smoker! If you quit drinking coffee, your toothpaste can scrub away some of those stains, and professional teeth whitening procedures can finish the process. Your teeth could be whiter than they have ever been. Additionally, your professionally-whitened teeth would not be stained or undone by drinking more coffee. You get teeth that are easier to whiten, stay whiter longer, and will not be yellowed again anytime soon because you gave up coffee.

You Will Have Fewer Cavities

Coffee is quite acidic. All of that coffee acid tends to wear away the protective enamel on your teeth. If you are like most people, you also consume a sweet treat with your coffee (e.g., biscotti, scone, donut, etc.). The acid from the coffee combined with the sugars from the accompanying treats causes you to develop more cavities. Even if you only drink coffee and skip the treats, the acid still eats away at your teeth enough to cause cavities. Quitting coffee means that you will have fewer cavities in the future.

Your Blood Pressure Will Be Lower

Caffeine from coffee elevates blood pressure, sometimes to a dangerous level. Dentists have begun to take patients' blood pressure readings during any visits where restorative procedures are expected. If your blood pressure is already elevated due to your coffee consumption, your dentist may not be able to perform whatever procedures you have requested or needed because of risks with your blood pressure. When you quit drinking coffee, your blood pressure drops and returns to a more normal level, thus allowing your dentist to go ahead with your procedures.

Your Breath Will Be Fresher

How many times have you been talking to someone (including your dentist) and realized that you had "coffee breath"? It is quite smelly. The longer you go without brushing your teeth or using a mouthwash after drinking coffee, the more stale and smelly your breath becomes. While your breath may still be unpleasant off of coffee, it does not linger in quite the same way. Additionally, the last person you want to offend with "coffee breath" is your dentist. It may be time to quit the coffee habit.

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