While we all want a bright white healthy-looking smile, certain popular foods and drinks are known to stain our teeth. To improve the appearance of your smile, it’s important to make the right lifestyle choices and visit a teeth whitening dental practice. For example, coffee and teeth enamel can be a bad combination since natural compounds tannins found in coffee cause pigments to stick to your teeth resulting in discoloration.
How Can I Avoid Staining My Teeth
The best way to keep your teeth white is to avoid staining them in the first place. The worst offending substances are those that have strong pigmentation and leave stains on your teeth, discoloring them in the long term.
White or light-colored foods and drinks don’t leave marked stains on your teeth. While you don’t need to cut out staining foods and drinks completely, it’s best to consume them with moderation to ensure your teeth remain as white as possible.
Coffee and Teeth Enamel
Although most of us can’t imagine starting the day without a cup of coffee, it could be dulling your smile. Many other frequently consumed foods and drinks are also guilty of causing stains and discoloration. Along the same lines, tea also stains teeth. Red wine is another drink that can leave stains on your teeth. Even just one glass a day is enough to cause long-term discoloration.
Foods That Result in Stained Enamel
Tomato-based sauces are guilty of causing long term stains on your teeth when consumed frequently. The deep red color pigment dulls the white of your teeth.
With the deep color of spices used in curries, these dishes can cause lingering stains on the enamel long after any meal is finished.
The dark color of soy sauce can stay on your teeth giving away your recent meal choice.
If you do need to remove some stubborn stains and want to improve the overall appearance of your teeth, try heading to a teeth whitening dental practice.
What Types of Teeth Whitening Services Are Available?
Before you get your teeth whitened, it’s a good idea to first use teeth cleaning services to remove any build-ups of plaque and hardened tartar. This kind of cleaning is great for removing substances that regular at-home brushing can’t do.
If you choose to do cosmetic dentistry in Cinco Ranch TX, you’ll have plenty of teeth whitening options to choose from including:
- Simple treatments you can do at home
- Immediate and noticeable results
- Maximum comfort with no sensitivity
- Treatments that can support the busiest lifestyles including frequent travel
While these treatments are effective long-term, it’s up to you to follow a lifestyle that doesn’t result in stained teeth. Remember that if you’re serious about keeping white teeth, coffee and teeth enamel is not a good combination and will eventually result in discolored teeth.
What Happens During a Teeth Whitening Session?
Before you choose a teeth whitening treatment, your dentist will assess the overall health of your teeth and suggest whether you first need a deep clean or if you can straight away go for teeth whitening.
They will then explain the different teeth whitening options to you. If you opt for an in-office teeth whitening procedure, you can start it while you’re still in your appointment. Your dentist will apply a mixture of low concentrate chemicals to your teeth that contain a low dosage of hydrogen peroxide. You will then wait for up to an hour while a bright U.V light shines on your teeth, creating a reaction that leaves your teeth many shades whiter.
If you prefer the idea of doing a treatment over a longer period of time in your own home, your dentist will give you a takeaway kit along with detailed instructions that have everything you need to effectively whiten your teeth.
If you’re finding that mixing coffee and teeth enamel isn’t the best combination for your smile, it might be time to call your dentist for a teeth whitening consultation. Don’t let discolored teeth hold you back and lower your confidence.