Did you know that even perfectly healthy teeth aren’t naturally bright white? The underlying layer of dentin is more yellow, and because your enamel is somewhat translucent, some of the deeper shade shines through. This is what gives your smile its ivory appearance.
Thankfully, your dentist can provide professional teeth whitening services to help you achieve just the right hue. The results can last anywhere from six months to three years, though you can maintain them by avoiding foods that stain teeth. Continue reading to learn about 3 options to avoid to keep your sparkling grin!
Culprit #1: Coffee
If you’re like nearly 67% of adults in the United States, you’ve enjoyed at least one cup of coffee in the past day. This beany beverage is known for its bold aroma and caffeine content that make it a breakfast favorite. Millions of people look forward to their first sip in the morning to get themselves moving.
However, as much as you might enjoy the boost to your mood, drinking coffee can tint your teeth. It contains tannins, a group of chemical compounds found in many plants that gives them their astringent flavor. These pigmented particles cling to plaque on your teeth, eventually leaving them looking worse for wear. If you think tea is a safer option, you might want to reconsider! It also contains tannins and contributes to discoloration.
Culprit #2: Blueberries
Blueberries are considered a superfood because they are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that benefit your body. Unfortunately, they are also known to stain everything from your fingers to your t-shirt to your teeth.
These flavorful fruits also contain anthocyanins, which are pigments in the skin of the fruit responsible for its bluish-purple color (the flesh inside is ivory-white) that develops as the berry ripens. That means blueberries will likely darken your recently enhanced smile, so you may want to avoid them to keep it looking light.
Culprit #3: Tomato Sauce
If you’re a fan of pizza or spaghetti, you might have already learned the hard way that eating too much tomato sauce can alter your appearance. Tomatoes contain a pigment called lycopene, which is hydrophobic (water-repelling). It doesn’t mix well with water so it is likely to cling to hard surfaces instead, like the silverware you’re using to eat it or the enamel of your teeth.
Brushing and flossing twice daily is a simple and effective way to strengthen your enamel to resist additional darkening and remove more recent surface stains. You can also schedule a follow-up whitening treatment to touch up your grin if it has begun to fade.
Meet the Author
Dr. Saba Abernethy enjoys helping people from all walks of life build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. She graduated from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and then completed a General Practice residency at the VA in Augusta, Maine. Now, she’s one of 6% of general dentists to earn a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry. She offers a full menu of services at one convenient location to meet all your needs, including cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening. You can request a consultation on the website or call (401) 333-2700.