Summer is upon us and while we all worry about getting in shape for the summer months we may think a little less about our smile. Who doesn’t want a brighter, whiter and healthier smile to match that beach ready body – ok, ok so we’re not quite beach ready yet…but at least we can start working on our smile!
As we age, the enamel of the teeth often discolors from our choice in diet, oral hygiene habits, and natural wear. While regular brushing, flossing and a healthy diet remain the best protection against tooth decay and gum disease we want to dig in a bit closer and specifically highlight a number of drinks that can cause stains and discoloration due to their acidity. These are the 5 drinks to avoid:
1. COFFEE
2. TEA
3. SPORTS DRINKS
4. RED WINE
5. WHITE WINE
Coffee and teas of all colors, even white tea, have been shown to stain teeth and erode enamel.
Sports drinks also damage tooth enamel and discolor teeth. Both light and dark sodas, because of their acidity, also cause discoloration and even encourage further staining from foods.
Not only can red wine stain teeth; white wine can as well. Quite surprisingly, white wine is actually more acidic than red wine, which may cause more damage and discoloration to the teeth.
Limiting your intake of all of these beverages will benefit both your oral and overall health. The best thirst quencher and the smartest choice for your teeth this summer and always is water of course! Another tip is to use a straw to keep stain-causing drinks away from your teeth. For hot drinks like coffee and tea it’s wise to wait until they have cooled down before using a straw so you don’t burn yourself – an obvious statment but always a good reminder!
If the damage is already done and you have stained and discolored teeth, tooth whitening (also known as dental bleaching) is an enormously-popular in-office treatment that uses bleaching agents to break apart these yellowing or staining compounds deep in the tooth enamel. The result is a change in the color of the natural tooth enamel that is whiter and brighter and greatly enhances the beauty of your smile.
If you would like to schedule a tooth whitening consultation or appointment, please contact our office today!