Iced coffee is a great way to cool off during the hot days of summer. It gives you energy, cools you off, and allows you to take it with you when you go! What better opportunity is there for a refreshing drink, right? Well, not so fast. There are some things you need to keep track of when it comes to sipping iced coffee. Let’s take a peek.
The Downsides to Drinking Iced Coffee
The biggest downside to drinking iced coffee is the fact that drinking coffee in any form can stain your teeth. This is true for iced coffee as well. The best ways to avoid your teeth getting stained while sipping on your favorite summer beverage is to one, make sure that you brush as soon as you are done drinking, and two, use a straw! The straw may not seem like it does much to help, but when you use a straw, the staining parts of the coffee bypass your front teeth and lessen their staining impact on your teeth. Another little tip is to make sure when you do drink iced coffee, make sure there is something by way of creamer or an added splash of milk to help lighten the color of what you are drinking. This will decrease the impact the coffee has as well.
The other problem with iced coffee is the ice. Many people chew on ice as a way to both cool off, and keep their mouths busy. The problem is that ice can damage your mouth by cracking your teeth, and being jagged enough to cut up your gums. The only way to avoid this is to avoid chewing on ice altogether. If you are super warm and ice is your only option, then make sure you only suck on the cubes to avoid causing harm to your mouth.
If you are looking for something you can drink this summer that is not going to stain your teeth quite as badly, you have a few options. You can drink lemonade with just enough sugar to take away the tart lemon flavor, or you can drink a tall glass of cold water. Just remember with either of those options not to chew on the ice, as it could still damage your teeth or gums. For more information on ways of keeping your teeth bright and white, contact us today!
