Are you one of those people who can't start the day without a cup of coffee? Before you take the first sip, maybe you should pause and reconsider your routine. Although many people prefer to go straight to the coffee maker when they wake up, experts agree that this habit can have negative consequences for your oral health.

Dr. Jeffrey Sulitzer, dentist and clinical director of SmileDirectClub in California, warns that drinking coffee before brushing your teeth can be harmful to tooth enamel. And although it may seem like a minor detail, it can make a big difference in your dental hygiene and appearance.

"Brushing your teeth before drinking coffee helps remove plaque, making it harder for stains to stick to your teeth when you drink coffee," the expert explained, according to Estar Mejor.

What happens to your enamel if you drink coffee without brushing

Coffee, in addition to having a high pigment content, is acidic. If you don't brush before drinking it, you'll be exposing your enamel directly to this combination, which facilitates staining and accelerates tooth erosion.

Dr. Sulitzer points out that this common habit can progressively weaken your teeth.

In this sense, it's best to brush your teeth as soon as you wake up. This will remove the plaque that has accumulated overnight and create a protective barrier before exposing your teeth to coffee.

Another important step before your morning coffee

Dr. Tara Scott, medical director of Forum Health Akron, suggests another healthy habit you can incorporate before drinking coffee: drink a glass of water. After several hours without drinking liquids while you sleep, your body wakes up dehydrated, and caffeine can aggravate that condition.

Drinking water when you wake up not only hydrates your body, but also helps prepare your stomach to receive coffee without causing discomfort such as anxiety or, in extreme cases, panic attacks.

Also, if you usually drink decaffeinated coffee, the impact will be less,Since the caffeine content (primarily responsible for dehydration) is low, brushing before coffee not only protects your enamel, it also prevents you from swallowing bacteria that built up overnight, improving your overall hygiene. It's a small change in your routine that can have a big impact on your oral health and how you feel each morning.