Could Your Coffee Be Causing Your Cavities?

Is your coffee causing your cavities? The answer is most likely, yes.

Sipping on coffee with added sugar for an extended period of time increases your chance of cavities, enamel erosion and an imbalanced oral microbiome. Even a latte without syrups added can cause damage (because milk inherently has sugar). 

But don’t worry, we’re not here to tell you that you can’t have your morning cup of joe. Simple modifications to what you drink or how you drink it can help improve the outcome for your teeth.

1. First, start by drinking your cup of coffee within a 20 minute time period. Decreasing the time that your teeth are in contact with your coffee will allow your mouth to normalize its pH levels more quickly and will allow your saliva to wash away the “sugar bugs” before they start to damage your teeth.

2. Secondly, opt for healthy sugar-free substitutes like Stevia, Xylitol or our personal favorite, Erythritol. Both Xylitol and Erythritol are actually good for your teeth because cavity-causing bacteria cannot metabolize them and they die off, causing no damage to your teeth but tasting just as sweet as sugar! And Erythritol has a glycemic index of 0, plus it it doesn’t cause gastrointestinal issues. You can also opt for sugar-free milk substitutes, which are also healthier for your body! 

3. Lastly, swish water in your mouth after finishing your coffee. Water also helps normalize the pH level of your mouth and rinses the leftover sugar off your teeth 

So continue to enjoy your delicious cup of goodness but do so in a healthier, tooth-happier way!