Though teeth are naturally durable and can last a lifetime, there are many reasons why you may experience tooth decay. With so many sugary treats and processed foods at your fingertips, it’s easier than ever to damage your teeth.
It’s so easy in fact, that 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. At the private dental practice of Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, in Butte, Montana, we help you keep your teeth healthy and bright.
We offer comprehensive dental services to keep your smile at its best. We know that the different foods and beverages you consume have a significant impact on the health of your teeth. Read on to learn which foods and drinks might be darkening your smile.
Though foods and beverages play a key role in changing the color of your teeth, they aren’t the only culprits. Changes below the surface of your teeth can cause discoloration as well.
These intrinsic dental stains may be triggered by dental injury or trauma, excessive fluoride, and some medicines.
Most of the time, stains develop from a substance discoloring the surface of your teeth. The use of tobacco products and plaque buildup from poor dental hygiene are common causes of these extrinsic dental stains.
Foods and beverages high in acid, like soda pop, can erode tooth enamel. This lack of protective enamel makes it easier for stains to develop and lets the darker, yellower part of your teeth show through.
Your teeth were designed for foods that come from the earth, so in the modern world of processed and packaged treats, there’s no end to the foods and beverages that yellow or darken your teeth. The following are among the worst offenders:
Carbonated beverages, such as soda pop and flavored water, increase the amount of acid that is in your mouth. The increase in acid weakens the enamel that protects your teeth, making it easier for cavities and decay to develop.
Your teeth also stain more easily, and the acid dries out your mouth. This leaves you thirstier than before you had the drink.
Candy is known to be bad for your teeth. But the acids found in sour candies are particularly terrible for oral health.
And since sour candies tend to stick to your teeth, their enamel-wrecking properties have extra power. Try fruits or chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth instead, and always brush your teeth after snacking on sweets.
Your saliva turns the starches in refined bread into sugars. They then stick to your teeth and the areas between them. When these sugars stick around, your chances of developing cavities or stains increases.
Next time, grab whole-grain bread that doesn’t have added sugars. This type of bread doesn’t break down as easily, helping keep your smile in tiptop shape.
Just like bread, potato chips are starchy. These starches break down and destroy dental enamel. It’s hard to eat just one chip, so the increased acid in your mouth builds up. To avoid stains and dental damage, brush and floss after eating potato chips.
Citrus fruits, like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, are full of vitamin C, an important vitamin that is good for your health. But they also have high acid content, which breaks down your dental enamel and makes it easier for cavities to form.
Even a small amount of citrus can cause problems. As such, consume these all-natural treats in moderation and rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after consumption.
If your teeth could use a little brightening, the Philips Zoom!® in-office whitening system could be for you. A consultation allows Dr. Wilcox to assess if you are a suitable candidate for teeth whitening.
For example, discoloration that comes from dental trauma, excessive fluoride exposure, or tetracycline exposure won’t be resolved with professional or at-home teeth whitening. Dr. Wilcox also checks for any oral health issues that he needs to treat before whitening.
At your whitening appointment, we first protect your gums using a rubber dam, then fill a retainer with a whitening solution and place it over your teeth. The safe bleaching agents in the Zoom! whitening solution break down the staining pigments on your teeth.
Finally, the Zoom! light enhances results, penetrating deep into your teeth. The best part? Your teeth can get up to eight shades lighter after just one 60-minute appointment.
Are you ready to learn more about improving a darkened smile? Schedule an appointment online or over the phone with our Butte, Montana, office today.
