Enjoying a great meal or a steaming hot latte on a cold morning are some of life’s simple pleasures. The only problem is that certain foods and drinks are notorious for staining your teeth, which adds years to your appearance. The best defense against stains and discoloration is being aware of these items so you can minimize their impact on your smile and also getting professional whitening from a cosmetic dentist. Keep reading to learn how you can help your smile look fantastic and prevent stains from certain foods and beverages.

Foods and Beverages That Stain Your Teeth

Generally speaking, anything dark in color will leave behind a residue of pigments that can discolor your teeth. But some things are particularly likely to leave stains:

• Red wine
• Grape or cherry juice
• Coffee and tea
• Berries
• Soda
• Soy sauce
• Tomato sauce
• Turmeric
• Beets

Also, acidic foods and beverages such as citrus fruits can make your teeth appear yellow over time. As the acids wear away at your enamel, the darker layer of tooth structure underneath becomes more prominent.

How Professional Take-Home Whitening Can Help

A professional whitening treatment from a cosmetic dentist will give you much better results than anything you could buy at the store. These products are not only significantly stronger, but also more gentle on your enamel to minimize sensitivity. Take-home kits are especially helpful because they offer the following benefits:

• Your teeth will be 4-8 shades lighter in about 2 weeks.
• Take-home whitening is less expensive but just as effective as in-office options.
• You can whiten when it’s convenient for you and won’t have to go to a dentist’s office.
• You can whiten as much and as often as you’d like. This is particularly helpful for patients who get temporary sensitivity after whitening.
• You can re-use your trays for many years and touch up your results whenever you’d like (you’ll only need to purchase inexpensive re-fills of whitening gel)

How To Maintain Your Whitening Results

You don’t have to completely give up the foods and drinks listed above, but try to rinse your mouth out with water after having them and also limit the total amount you have. Be sure to brush at least twice a day with whitening toothpaste to remove surface stains, floss at least once, and schedule regular checkups and cleanings.

By getting a whitening treatment and making the effort to minimize stains, you’ll be able to maintain a gorgeous white smile that you love to show off.

About the Author

Dr. Leslie Metzger has been a general, restorative and cosmetic dentist for many years. She wants to help all of her patients feel great about their smile and offers Opalescence take-home kits to help them achieve the beautiful, white teeth they’ve always wanted. If you’d like to erase stains and discoloration and have any questions, you can reach Dr. Metzger through her website.