Many people want a smile they can be proud of and one way to achieve a dazzling smile is to have pearly white teeth. However, in order to maintain a bright smile, you should be mindful of the types of things you consume. Because of certain factors, some foods or beverages can create harsh stains on your teeth that over time can be difficult to remove.
When considering foods that can stain teeth, be sure to look out for dark pigments. Some foods or beverages stain teeth because they have an intense amount of pigmented molecules called chromogens. These chromogens latch on to dental enamel and cause your teeth to become discolored.
Another thing to look out for is foods or beverages that are very acidic. Acidic foods and beverages can cause staining by eroding the dental enamel, which temporarily softens teeth and makes it easier for chromogens to latch on. These foods that weaken the enamel include citrus fruits, berries and apples. Eating a balanced diet and eliminated these starchy, sugary foods will help strengthen your enamel. However, to reduce the acidity in your mouth, you should try to eat cheese with every meal. Cheese helps to wash away the acidic residue leftover.
One rule of thumb for determining whether or not what you’re eating will stain your teeth is to determine if it will stain your white tablecloth or carpet. Some of the main foods or beverages to consider would include: wine, coffee, cola, berries, sauces (such as soy sauce, curry sauce, or tomato sauce), and sweets. If these beverages are some of your favorites, you can try to drink them with a straw. This minimizes the contact between your teeth and the beverages that you consume. You can also rinse your mouth with plain water after your meal to wash away some of the residue that is left after your eat. Another main culprit for staining teeth is smoking or chewing tobacco. However, you can prevent stained teeth by eating certain foods, such as carrots, celery and cauliflower.
Even if you consume dark pigmented or acidic foods, just know that there are a variety of options to help you achieve a pearly white smile. One option that can help prevent stains on your teeth would be to brush and floss twice-a-day. Keep up with your regular dental visits twice a year for cleanings. To brush more effectively, be sure to ask your dentist about electric toothbrushes. The electric toothbrush gives you the ability to clean your teeth and to help remove any stains or residue more thoroughly.
Be sure to ask your dentist in Addison about teeth whitening treatments that can be provided in office or at home. If you decide on an in office treatment plan, your dentist may apply a bleaching agent to your teeth and shine a laser light to your coated teeth to expedite the process. This is achieved in one session and results are seen instantly. You can also ask your dentist about at home whitening treatments. Your dentist may give you teeth whitening trays that you fill with gel and you wear them for short periods of time. This treatment plan can take a week to a month in order to achieve the desired effect. Lastly, you can also buy over the counter teeth whitening kits at your local drugstore. Although effective, these kits often take months before you get the results that you want.
