For that morning kick or to fight the afternoon dip, most humans need a pick-me-up at some stage of the day and coffee is usually the answer. However coffee has a very high staining potential for your teeth.
Here at Boyne Dental we have all types of treatments to keep your pearly whites white! But what can you do to prevent staining on your teeth? And what foods are the worst for staining?
Tooth enamel is porous making it extremely susceptible to stains. Essentially, coloured foods and beverages are absorbed by your teeth, discolouring them, causing a yellow/brown tinge. However it is not just the colour of the food/beverage that can cause staining. The level of acidity in the food or beverage can also make a difference. Acidic foods promote stains by wearing away at the enamel and temporarily softening the teeth, making them more susceptible to stains.
Why does this happen?
Colour in foods and beverages come from chromogens or intensely pigmented molecules that easily adhere to dental enamel. Food compounds known as tannins (found in coffee, tea, wine, citrus foods etc.) increase staining potential by boosting the chromogens ability to stick to enamel.
If something can leave a stain on clothes or the carpet, it can probably stain your teeth.
How to prevent food or beverage stains
Giving up coffee, tea, and other beverages that may stain your teeth is the best way to prevent staining, but for most people this just is not an option. Rather than abstaining, try to consume them at specific times. For example drink coffee at a break time rather than throughout the day. After finishing, you can then rinse your mouth out with water or brush your teeth to remove the potentially yellowing pigments from your teeth.
Using whitening toothpaste and brushing twice daily can help keep a white smile. In addition, regular professional cleanings can remove many of the surface stains, giving you a whiter smile.
Tips to keep your teeth stain free
• Four hygienist visits a year
• Drink with a straw
• Don’t smoke
• Whitening toothpaste
• At home whitening kits