<p>I found <a href="https://lumino.co.nz/blog/dental-tips/teeth-and-coffee-we-lay-down-the-facts/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> from a dentist</p>
<p>Essentially reinforcing what @JJJ has said in their answer (Acidity, Tannins and sugars), along with a commentary about how coffee dry's the mouth, reduces saliva, along with sulphur compounds, can cause bad breath (halitosis)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-15T01:37:08.023Z
2021-11-15T01:37:08.023Z
mattnz
<p>Since this site is about coffee, not dentistry, I will answer from a Coffee perspective. I can think of three issues with coffee that can affect one's teeth:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Acidity. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-34392-w" rel="noreferrer">Brewed coffee has a pH around 5</a>. That means it is an acidic beverage, but not as acidic <a href="https://edu.rsc.org/soundbite/coca-cola/2021233.article" rel="noreferrer">Coca Cola which has a pH as low as 2.6</a> or <a href="https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/ph-levels-apple-orange-grape-cranberry-fruit-juices-12062.html" rel="noreferrer">many fruits which have pH levels ranging from 2.3 to 4.2</a>. It's about <a href="https://www.vahdamteas.com/blogs/tea-us/is-tea-acidic" rel="noreferrer">the same as black tea which has pH levels ranging from 4.9 to 5.5</a>. Coffee acidity may affect dental health because <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_erosion" rel="noreferrer">acidic foods can erode the teeth</a>. Coffee is a bit on the border with sources saying <a href="https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/clinical-hygiene/article/16350765/the-magic-of-ph" rel="noreferrer">tooth demineralization may start at a pH of 5.5</a> (and lower pH means increased acidity).</p>
</li>
<li><p>Tannins. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin#Drinks_with_tannins" rel="noreferrer">Coffee contains tannins</a>, which are a class of chemical compounds. According to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/what-does-coffee-do-to-your-teeth" rel="noreferrer">healthline.com</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Tannins cause color compounds to stick to your teeth. When these compounds stick, they can leave an unwanted yellow hue behind. It only takes one cup of coffee a day to cause stained teeth.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p>Sugar. Of course not all coffee contains a lot of sugar, but sugar is commonly added to coffee. Sugar affects dental hygiene because bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars (and in turn <a href="https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-microbiology/chapter/bacterial-diseases-of-the-mouth/" rel="noreferrer">they produce acids that may damage the teeth</a>). As <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sugars-and-dental-caries" rel="noreferrer">the WHO writes</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The majority of dental caries occurs in adults because the disease is cumulative. There is a clear dose-response relationship between sugars consumption and dental caries.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-16T00:00:01.680Z
2021-10-16T00:00:01.680Z
JJJ
<p>Are there any good sources of information about the effect coffee has on the health of teeth? These could be scientific sources and material for readers who are not medical experts.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-06T15:43:05.627Z
If you love coffee as I do, it probably isn't good for your dental health, but here's a slogan:  coffee is better for teeth than toffee!
JosephDoggie
<health>
Coffee and teeth health
Martin Peters
# Coffee and teeth health

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-10-15)

Are there any good sources of information about the effect coffee has on the health of teeth? These could be scientific sources and material for readers who are not medical experts.

**Tags:** health

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you love coffee as I do, it probably isn't good for your dental health, but here's a slogan:  coffee is better for teeth than toffee!  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-10-16. Score: 5

Since this site is about coffee, not dentistry, I will answer from a Coffee perspective. I can think of three issues with coffee that can affect one's teeth:

1. Acidity. [Brewed coffee has a pH around 5](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-34392-w). That means it is an acidic beverage, but not as acidic [Coca Cola which has a pH as low as 2.6](https://edu.rsc.org/soundbite/coca-cola/2021233.article) or [many fruits which have pH levels ranging from 2.3 to 4.2](https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/ph-levels-apple-orange-grape-cranberry-fruit-juices-12062.html). It's about [the same as black tea which has pH levels ranging from 4.9 to 5.5](https://www.vahdamteas.com/blogs/tea-us/is-tea-acidic). Coffee acidity may affect dental health because [acidic foods can erode the teeth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_erosion). Coffee is a bit on the border with sources saying [tooth demineralization may start at a pH of 5.5](https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/clinical-hygiene/article/16350765/the-magic-of-ph) (and lower pH means increased acidity).
2. Tannins. [Coffee contains tannins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin#Drinks_with_tannins), which are a class of chemical compounds. According to [healthline.com](https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/what-does-coffee-do-to-your-teeth):

   > Tannins cause color compounds to stick to your teeth. When these compounds stick, they can leave an unwanted yellow hue behind. It only takes one cup of coffee a day to cause stained teeth.
3. Sugar. Of course not all coffee contains a lot of sugar, but sugar is commonly added to coffee. Sugar affects dental hygiene because bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars (and in turn [they produce acids that may damage the teeth](https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-microbiology/chapter/bacterial-diseases-of-the-mouth/)). As [the WHO writes](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sugars-and-dental-caries):

   > The majority of dental caries occurs in adults because the disease is cumulative. There is a clear dose-response relationship between sugars consumption and dental caries.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-11-15. Score: 4

I found [this](https://lumino.co.nz/blog/dental-tips/teeth-and-coffee-we-lay-down-the-facts/) from a dentist

Essentially reinforcing what @username_3 has said in their answer (Acidity, Tannins and sugars), along with a commentary about how coffee dry's the mouth, reduces saliva, along with sulphur compounds, can cause bad breath (halitosis)


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