Dentist warns of common habit we do 'all day' which means we're at risk of cavities

Brushing your teeth is essential - but it's also important to be brushing at the right time of day for good oral health
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


A dentist has warned against drinking a firm favourite beverage 'all day' as it can wreak havoc in your mouth.

What's the first thing you do in the morning after stretching and checking your social media? For many people, it will be to make a coffee, and then throughout the day, whenever you feel your productivity slipping, or you find yourself sitting at your desk daydreaming, you'll reach for another coffee. Whether you like it iced, hot, mocha, or latte, you're doing yourself no favours by drinking it all day long, one dentist on TikTok claims, and it can cause cavities.

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Dentist @joycethedentist took to TikTok to share the things she would "never do" because of her profession - so she's encouraging others to not do them too.

"I would never sip coffee throughout the day", she warned. "It's best to drink your coffee and be done with it because every time you take a sip the pH in the mouth drops. The more the pH in the mouth is acidic, the more the environment lends towards an increased risk for cavities."

Marquess Dental, based in Anglesey, Wales, backed this up, saying that not only can coffee cause unwanted "stains", but the issues go "beyond cosmetic concerns". They recommended that "Immediately after finishing your coffee, rinse your mouth with water. This simple step helps to wash away coffee residue and neutralise acids, protecting your enamel from erosion."

They also said that if you drink coffee through a straw, it can "minimise stains", and they even shared "darker roasts as they generally have lower acidity levels than lighter roasts", so it's better to opt for those. Of course, they highlighted the importance of going for regular check-ups and speaking to your dentist about any specific concerns you may have.

Other things she warned against include using mouthwash with a high alcohol content as it can make the mouth "acidic", using an over-the-counter mouth guard rather than one made by a dentist, skipping nighttime brushing, and sharing your toothbrush.

She claimed that "in a poll, 49% of men and 57% of women said they only brush once per day", which is a shocking statistic. Another poll statistic she mentioned in the video was that 54% of people said sharing a toothbrush was "normal", saying she thought it was "unhygienic", and she didn't understand "why couples do it".