Tuesday, October 1, 2013

You May Be Staining Your Teeth with Your Favorite Foods

According to your San Luis Obispo Dentist Dr.Deborah McNeil Amorteguy, even tea teetotalers can have stained teeth. If you abstain from drinking red wine, coffee and tea there are still plenty of foods that can cause unsightly stains to your pearly whites.

Blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and other fruits such as pomegranates have lots of pigmentation that will stain your teeth. If you like to indulge, your Dentist in San Luis Obispo advises you to make sure and rinse with water immediately after eating. Although white cranberries and white grapes have less pigmentation, it is still a good idea to rinse as these fruits contain acid that could harm the enamel on your teeth.  

Recent studies have shown that sports drinks contain acid, which could cause tooth discoloration. Energy and sports drinks can erode the enamel on your teeth setting you and your teeth up for staining. The Best Dentist in San Luis Obispo recommends that you limit your intake of sports and energy drinks during exercise. Water is a far better choice for your teeth.

Your favorite sauces such as tomato, soy, and curry could be staining your teeth. Dark colored pasta sauces have lots of pigment, but also contain acid, which could temporarily open the pores in your teeth allowing the pigments to stain your teeth. Your San Luis Obispo Dentist suggests white cream sauces instead of red sauces to minimize the risk.

Soda contains chromogens and acid that can lead to teeth staining. Even lightly colored sodas can encourage staining because of the acid content. If you drink lots of soda, your teeth could become stained from other foods that you consume. Some studies suggest that the acid in soda can be likened to battery acid. Soda also contains additives that could have erosive effects on your teeth.

Of course, if you must indulge in your favorite foods there are a few things you can do. Try drinking with a straw and rinse before you brush as the enamel that coats your teeth is at risk from the abrasive action of your toothbrush. Try to swallow your food as quickly as possible. You may want to savor the flavor of your favorite spaghetti sauce, but it is important to chew and swallow to avoid potential staining. Brushing twice and flossing once a day will keep stains at bay, but so will a visit to your Dentist in San Luis Obispo.

If your teeth are stained, there is something you can do about it. Schedule an appointment with your San Luis Obispo and ask about tooth whitening to get back that smile you thought was lost forever.