As we grow older, we notice that our teeth become less white and bright as they were when we were young. It is important to ensure that you are taking care of your smile to avoid oral problems, especially that of tooth decay and gum disease.
While keeping your mouth healthy is of utmost importance, naturally, we also are concerned with the aesthetic appeal of our smile, such as having white teeth. If you are struggling to keep your smile bright, keep reading to learn about the foods and drinks that you could be consuming that may be staining your teeth.
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks that stain your teeth, and you have probably heard about it before. While coffee is dark in color and contains tannins which lead to discoloration, it also has highly acidic properties, which break down the enamel (the outer protective layer of your teeth) and reveal a yellow layer of tissue.
Red wine
Red wine is another very popular drink that is guilty of staining your teeth. The tannins and acidity levels in red wine are the known cause. To enjoy your red wine, add a handful of almonds or hard chewy foods to help increase your saliva production and remove plaque from the teeth.
Berries
While berries are tasty and have health benefits, their darker hues can stain the teeth when consumed on a regular basis. If you want to enjoy your berries and keep your smile bright, consider brushing your teeth after consumption.
Tea
Unfortunately, tea, just like coffee, contains tannins and acid and can stain your teeth. Adding a bit of milk to your tea and coffee can help even out the staining properties.
Soda
While regular sodas are horrible for your teeth due to the high sugar content, diet sodas are also high in acidity which breaks down the enamel on your teeth and leads to decay and discoloration.
Gatorade
Sport’s drinks can be even worse for your teeth than sodas. With the high amounts of sugars, acid, and other additives, sports drinks are prone to harming your smiling in regular consumption.
Lemon
While lemon is healthy for certain functions of your body, it is extremely high in acidity, which is very risky for the health of your teeth. These high levels of acidity break down the enamel on your teeth and expose yellow tissue and can even encourage tooth decay.
Taking care of your smile means more than brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing, it also means watching what you eat and drink, as well as regularly visiting your Irving dentist. Make sure you are coming in to see us here at Cosmetic and Family Dentistry every six months for a checkup and cleaning so we can help you keep your oral health in check. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
