Having a healthy white smile is something everyone desires. The ability to smile freely exudes confidence and can radiate positivity. While everyone’s teeth have their own natural color, there are some foods that stain your teeth more than others. Stained teeth often give off the perception of an unclean mouth even if it isn’t. Below you will find the most common foods that stain your teeth and how you can brighten your smile.
Most Common Teeth-Staining Foods
While you may enjoy the foods and drinks below, consider moderation as they can stain your teeth.
- Red Wine: Due to the color of red wine, it can remain on your teeth even after you’ve finished your drink. Red wine is acidic, which means that it can negatively impact your enamel. When your enamel is broken down and weakened, the color of red wine can penetrate those weaker areas and leave your teeth stained.
- Coffee and Tea: Both coffee and tea contain tannins which cause teeth stains. This is because your enamel is filled with millions of tiny pores, and the coffee and tea can penetrate it and get stuck there. Coffee and tea can also get stuck in any plaque in your teeth which causes a brownish stain.
- Juices and Sodas: Soft drinks and juices, especially dark ones, can stain your teeth. This is because they are acidic and can impact your enamel just as coffee and tea do.
- Berries: Similar to red wine, berries have a distinct color that can penetrate the enamel on your teeth and stick onto it. This will leave your teeth stained despite the wonderful health benefits of fruit.
- Tomato Sauces: Tomato-based sauces are not only highly pigmented, but acidic. This can leave teeth looking yellowish and the acidity can also contribute to enamel erosion.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Similar to tomato-based sauces, balsamic vinegar is tasty, but the pigmentation can leave your teeth a brownish color.
- Curry: The natural yellow color of curry leaves behind residue that can stain your teeth, especially near your gum line.
- Soy Sauce: Dentists say that this is the worst offender for staining teeth as it can linger in your mouth long after you eat.
Prevention and Treatment
One of the best ways to ensure your teeth stay clean and white is to have a good, consistent oral care routine. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush. In addition, you should also floss at least once a day. If you cannot brush your teeth after you eat, try a mouthwash with fluoride. It is also vital that you attend your six-month dental check-ins to ensure that your oral health is in good shape.
Even if you do have a good oral care routine, staining can occur. In that case, it’s advisable to get teeth whitening treatment. Depending on your unique dental needs, there are laser and ZOOM teeth whitening treatments. Laser teeth whitening is fast and produces great results. The treatment takes roughly fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on the type of treatment. Zoom teeth whitening in Montclair can take roughly an hour and is also a highly effective treatment. Talk with a dentist about which treatment is right for you.
Montclair Dentist
If your teeth are stained and you are considering teeth whitening treatment, contact Monte Vista Dental Group. They are the premier general, emergency, and cosmetic dental office for your entire family. Their office is equipped with the latest technology, and their dentist provide the most up-to-date procedures. Contact the best Montclair dentist office for an appointment today!