A new season, a new smile
Springtime–it’s a time of renewal, flowers and bright sunshine. Would you like your smile to look its very best? The National Academy of Sciences says research indicates a beautiful smile helps that all-important first impression. A vibrant smile conveys attractiveness and even approachability when it comes to interpersonal relationships.
What would you like your smile to say? Your Brookfield, WI dentists at Elmbrook Family Dental assist patients of all ages have whiter smiles, fully informing them on the causes of discoloration, how to avoid them and how to treat stains.
Stains get in the way
Unfortunately, the things we put in our mouths change our smiles–yellowing, darkening and spoiling the bright color Nature gives tooth enamel. This extrinsic staining, as dentists call it, sometimes results from poor dental hygiene, and regular at-home brushing and flossing along with professional cleanings semi-annually may correct it.
Drs. Brunner, Taibl and Brunner teach that other measures help keep tooth surfaces clean and white. One measure is smoking cessation. Cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco are famous for brown spotty staining on front teeth. Plus, smoking cessation is best for overall health.
However, dietary choices stain teeth, too, and the foods and beverages that yellow teeth aren’t bad. They simply contain deep pigments that penetrate the hard mineral matrix of a tooth’s topmost layer, or they are highly acidic and soften tooth enamel, making it more susceptible to stains.
Foods and drinks to avoid or limit
Your Brookfield, WI dentists list several kinds of food and beverage choices that stain teeth:
- Red wine which is rich in darkly pigmented molecules called chromogens
- Blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries
- Black tea which contains staining substances called tannins
- Coffee and colas
- Acidic foods such as tomato sauce which soften enamel
- Soy sauce
- Curry
- Sports drinks
- Hard candies
While patients cannot–and probably should not–avoid many of these foods, your Brookfield, WI dentists teach some ways to lessen their staining effects:
- Drink dark beverages, such as iced coffee, through a straw, and rinse your mouth or brush immediately afterwards.
- Brush your teeth twice a day and floss in between teeth and at the gumline to remove biofilm (plaque and tartar) that holds organic material and stains.
- Rinse with water after eating if you cannot brush. In general, upping your daily water intake increases metabolic processes and cleanses toxins from the body. It washes teeth and stimulates production of saliva.
- Eat fibrous vegetables and fruits. Hard cheeses and other dairy products,when paired with acidic foods, mitigate their corrosive effects.
Professional teeth whitening
Your Brookfield, WI dentists offer Zoom! at-home and in-office teeth whitening for extrinsic staining from foods. They use Kor deep bleaching for more difficult discoloration from pharmaceuticals such as tetracycline. They can recommend the best way to keep, or get, your whitest smile. Contact the office for an appointment today for a cosmetic dentistry consultation.