Proper dental health is something that we all have to invest in as early as now, instead of waiting for things to get drastic. You will find that it is much easier and less costly to perform regular maintenance on your dental health, rather than having to go through the trouble of undergoing expensive procedures to fix the results of improper dental hygiene.
Once you get into the routine of things, you will find that regular dental hygiene is very easy to carry out, and when you take care of your teeth, it is significantly easier for you to keep major dental issues at bay. When it comes to dental care, you should never forget the usual dental hygiene checks, like brushing and flossing.
However, dental care also means paying close attention to how you treat your teeth outside of keeping them clean. There are certain things that we do on the daily that cause long-term damage to your teeth.
One common example is if you have a habit of crunching down on ice.
While this can be refreshing and satisfying, keep in mind that eating ice all the time can chip away at the enamel on your teeth, which can eventually cause damage in the form of chips and cracks in your teeth.
Over time, your teeth will need extensive work done to repair it if this is a habit that you don’t watch out for. Another important thing that you need to keep an eye on in terms of dental health care is the kind of food that you eat. Certain types of food can cause cosmetic annoyances for your teeth, such as staining.
Not only do stains on your teeth affect your appearance, but certain types of food that stain your teeth can also wear down the enamel of your teeth due to their acidity, and can cause dental issues. Learn more about the foods that can stain your teeth so that you know what to watch out for.
Pasta sauce
Rich and delicious, pasta sauce is a favorite among people. However, keep in mind that the tomatoes in pasta sauce can cause staining in your teeth because of their acidity. The acidity in the tomatoes can wear down the enamel on your teeth, and their red pigment will easily stain your teeth once the enamel has worn down a bit.
Curry sauce
Another contender in the sauce category, curry is a dish that is enjoyed by many people because of its complex flavors and spiced kick. However, like a tomato-based pasta sauce, its brightly colored pigment can cause stains on your teeth, which can be a nuisance to deal with.
Beverages
Of course, drinks are another thing that you have to pay attention to in order to avoid staining your teeth. Many people think that drinks cannot possibly stain teeth because they’re liquid, but if you drink enough of a particular kind of beverage, then it can eventually affect your dental health.
Some drinks that you have to watch out for are soda and surprisingly enough, lemon water. While lemon water is often recommended for its health benefits, sipping lemon water can cause damage to your teeth because of the acidity of the lemon. If your teeth are exposed to this for too long, then your teeth may face enamel erosion because of the lemon, which can invite stains to stick to your teeth.
When it comes to beverages that can stain the teeth, there are quite a few everyday options that can cause this issue. Coffee and tea are the two most common culprits for teeth staining. These two beverages contain tannins, which can cause color compounds to stick to your teeth and lead to staining.
Cola is both acidic and dark colored, which is a definite factor in teeth staining, and it also has the added factor of being high in sugar, so for the sake of your dental health and especially plaque, this is something that you should avoid or have as infrequently as possible.
Sports and energy drinks have also been found to play a role in teeth staining because of their ability to break down enamel, as well as the fact that they tend to be brightly colored, which will leave stains on your teeth.
Certain fruits and berries
There are also quite a few natural causes of teeth staining. Fruits and berries like blackberries, cranberries, and pomegranates are good for you because of their natural antioxidant properties, but their bright juices can stain your teeth as well. These fruits and berries are also acidic, which can aggravate the issue even further.
How do you deal with stained teeth?
It may seem like anything that you encounter on a daily basis can stain your teeth, so what does that mean for you?
Does this mean that you should simply avoid everything altogether?
While there are certain types of foods and drinks that put you at a higher risk of teeth staining than others, this does not mean that you should be afraid of every single food and drink that you encounter.
As long as you practice proper dental hygiene and are more mindful about how you treat your teeth, then it is not impossible to consume these foods and drinks without harming the visual appeal of your teeth. One way to minimize the effects of the strongly colored food and drinks is by offsetting it with other types of food that can protect your teeth from the staining.
A good example is by eating vegetables like kale and spinach, as well as carrots and cucumbers. You can also form the habit of drinking water after you’ve eaten or drank anything that can stain your teeth.
It is also good practice to drink water after eating or drinking anything acidic. It’s also important to avoid brushing your teeth right after having anything acidic, as this can cause further damage to your teeth after it has been exposed to something acidic.
If you find that your teeth have already started to show signs of staining, then it is recommended that you see a professional to help reverse this issue. A team of dental hygienists like Smile Blanc can keep your teeth in good condition. We provide a range of services that are designed to help you bring out your best smile while keeping your teeth in good condition, so book an appointment with us today!
