With the holidays right around the corner, you may be faced with a few tough decisions when it comes to your diet. Eggnog is plentiful, Christmas cookies are overflowing on dessert platters, and those who love red wine are celebrating with a glass at every turn. All of these delicacies sound great, but what are they doing to your teeth?
Your dentist is here to shed some light on how your diet could be affecting the shade of your smile. If you’ve noticed your smile getting darker and darker, your dentist can also help you with professional teeth whitening!
Give Yourself the Best Present This Year: Whiter Teeth!
Do you maintain great dental hygiene habits at home, but have still noticed your smile darken despite your best efforts? You may not want to go into the new year with stained teeth—with the help of your dentist, you don’t have to! Your dentist can help you achieve whiter teeth and maintain them by avoiding these following foods and drinks.
Coffee
Your favorite coffee shops probably have tasty holiday-flavored drinks like pumpkin spice lattes or peppermint frappes. The extra flavors and sweeteners we add to our morning beverage are also extremely sugary, leading to acid breaking down your tooth enamel. This makes your teeth more susceptible to stains.
Dark Fruits
One of the staples to a successful Thanksgiving dinner is the dark red, sweet cranberry sauce. Who doesn’t love adding that bit of sweetness to your wholesome Thanksgiving plate? Although they’re yummy, dark berries can stain the teeth if you don’t rinse your mouth with water after.
Pasta Sauces
Believe it or not, even the sauces we enjoy along with other foods may cause your teeth to darken over time. If your family has a tradition of having lasagna over the holidays as a family dinner or even if you don’t feel like cooking and have pizza, be sure to brush your teeth after. The red pasta sauces could change the color of your smile.
Red Wine
Red wine has the similar enamel weakening acid and dark pigment that threaten the strength and whiteness of your teeth. Drinking red wine is always fun and games, especially when you’re with family and friends during the holidays—until you look in the mirror. You may have wine teeth because red wine contains higher amounts of sugar that can lead to weakening tooth enamel, causing your smile to change shades.
Have the foods and beverages you love betrayed your smile by leaving dark stains on your teeth? Give your smile a fresh start by visiting your dentist for a deep cleaning and professional teeth whitening.
About Our Office
If you’re looking for true, well-rounded, comfortable dental care, you can be confident in your team here at Flenniken Family Dentistry. Dr. Neil Flenniken and Dr. Suzan Rismani-Flenniken are both committed to offering patient-centered treatment to help patients reach their personal goals. Reach out to us before the end of the year to use your dental benefits and develop your custom dental treatment plan—including cosmetic treatments!
