"Personally, rinsing with water after coffee has been way more effective for me too... and cheaper, lol."
Totally agree with this. My dentist actually recommended the same thing for my daughter since she started drinking tea regularly. We tried those whitening toothpastes too, but honestly, they seemed more marketing hype than anything else. Plus, I got concerned about the abrasiveness damaging her enamel long-term. Now we just stick to rinsing with water right after tea or coffee—simple, effective, and no worries about enamel wear. Sometimes the simplest solutions really are best...
Same here, rinsing with water has been a game changer for me too. I used to brush immediately after coffee thinking it was better, but my dentist actually warned me that brushing right away can push the acids deeper into your enamel... who knew? Now I just swish some water around and wait a bit before brushing. Teeth feel cleaner, stains are less noticeable, and bonus—no more toothpaste splatters on my shirt before work, lol. Anyone else been told to wait before brushing?
I've heard that too, but honestly, waiting makes me anxious about stains setting in... Does anyone know exactly how long you're supposed to wait before brushing after coffee? I usually give it like 15 mins—is that enough?
"I usually give it like 15 mins—is that enough?"
I think 15 mins is probably fine, honestly. My orthodontist actually mentioned something similar when I got braces—she said waiting at least 20-30 mins is ideal because coffee's acidity temporarily softens enamel. I usually wait around 25 mins myself. But now you've got me wondering...does rinsing with water right after coffee help neutralize the acidity faster or is that just wishful thinking?
I've wondered about rinsing too, actually. From what I've read, rinsing with water right after coffee does help dilute the acidity somewhat, but it doesn't completely neutralize it. My dentist recommended waiting at least 20 mins before brushing, even if you rinse first, just to be safe. I usually rinse immediately and then wait around half an hour before brushing...maybe I'm overly cautious, but better safe than sorry when it comes to enamel!
