Coffee Hack to Stain-Free Teeth

Can I drink six cups of coffee a day and still not have coffee-stained teeth? Yes! The answer lies in how coffee is prepared. Coffee stains teeth--obviously; yet, adding milk will SUBSTANTIALLY mitigate the staining potential. How much milk is needed? There is an answer!

How Does Coffee Stain Teeth?

In coffee and tea, the combination of the tannin stimulant, acidity, color, and temperature stain teeth. This concoction actually does not bind to teeth but to a slimy film from your saliva instead that is embedded onto your teeth. This adhesion leads to unsightly discoloration.

---

Why Milk is the Best Hack

Adding milk to coffee is proven to substantially reduce staining on teeth. 

When going to prom you only get one date. Likewise, milk and teeth are vying for that one tannin date to prom. Tannin can only bind to one protein so if combined with milk (casein protein) then the coffee molecules cannot bond to the tooth and thus drastically reduce coffee’s ability to stain teeth. The race is to see who the girl will pick for prom–in this case, milk or teeth bonding to coffee. 

---

What’s the Best Milk Product to Add?

Only animal milk binds to coffee because of the casein protein. Sheep milk is twice as superior to cow’s milk but unless you live on a farm, good luck finding that on the market. Whole milk is ubiquitous, most practical, and is a close second place to sheep’s milk. Any milk products work but in order of effectiveness:

Sheep, goat, whole, 2%, half-and-half, heavy cream, coffee creamer--creamers have variable results.

---

How Much Milk to Add

The landmark study says 20% of your coffee should be milk to completely neutralize coffee’s staining effects; however, this dilutes the coffee taste substantially. Adding 10% milk is that sweet spot as the best of both worlds–-taste and sufficient staining protection while a splash of milk (5%) is “adequate” against staining. 

Size	Oz	10% Cow Milk to Add to Coffee
Small	8	~1.5 Tbsp
Medium/Tall	12	~2.5 Tbsp
Large/Grande	16	~3.0 Tbsp

For one cup of coffee (8oz), here’s how much milk (at 10% of the drink) should be added for enough casein protein to effectively prevent staining based on different milks. Double everything (see chart below) to be most effective at 20%.

Quantity of milk to add to an 8 oz. coffee to be effective from stain:

Quantity to Add	Milk Type
2.5 tsp	Sheep Milk
1.5 Tbsp	Cow Milk, Goat Milk, Nurri Creamer
⅛ cup	Half-and-Half
¼ cup	Heavy Cream, Creamers: Natural Bliss, Starbucks, Too Good
1.5 cups! (45 mini tubs)	Most coffee creamers (i.e. Chobani, Nestle Coffee Mate)

---

almond, oat, soy, coconut, pea, rice, cashew, niche

What Plant-Based Milks Are Best to Add to Coffee to Prevent Stains?

Plant-based milks do NOT contain the casein proteins that bind to coffee. All of these milks do nothing to prevent staining and can even promote an increase in staining on teeth since there’s no competition for the tannins to bind to the tooth’s smear layer. If you are trying to prevent your teeth from staining, do NOT add plant-based milks to your coffee!

---

Tips to Reduce Coffee/Tea Staining on Teeth

• Brushing your teeth after drinking coffee is effective in removing stain. Brushing before drinking coffee does not change the staining potential of coffee

• When adding milk to coffee, completely mix the milk

• Pour coffee first then add your 10% milk product (ie pour 16 oz then add 3.2 Tbsp of milk)

• Drink white or green tea, chamomile tea, or light roast coffee--these stain less naturally

• Drink coffee or tea cold rather than hot

• Drink with a straw

• Drink coffee or tea in one setting and not sipping throughout the day

• Drink water after drinking coffee

• Brush twice a day with toothpaste that has fluoride

• Clean your teeth professionally at minimum every 6 months

• The easiest solution to reducing stain--stop drinking coffee and tea altogether