You may have a well-aligned smile that perfectly complements your facial features, but if your teeth are discolored, it can cancel out those good things.
Although natural tooth color varies, we’re going to cover a major contributor to tooth staining, and it’s within your control.
If your level of discoloration deeply bothers you, consider professional teeth whitening. That, combined with avoiding things known to cause tooth discoloration after whitening treatment can have you sitting — and smiling — pretty again!
Dr. Ali Saeghi leads the stellar Modern Age Dental team and provides advanced dental care to his patients, including routine dental care, dental implants, and emergency dentistry.
Everyone at Modern Age is committed to your emotional and physical comfort every time you visit us. The result? Outstanding relationships with our patients!
Think of something you do multiple times a day that is key to your survival.
It’s eating and drinking.
Certain foods and beverages — some of which we enjoy often — have a strong staining effect on our teeth.
Some of the most damaging foods and drinks that affect whiteness are:
Foods with high acidity, like tomato sauce, are prime culprits in tooth discoloration.
Other acidic foods to be mindful about consuming are jams, jellies, and pickled foods like sauerkraut and kimchi. Fermented foods are also linked to enamel erosion, which also sets you up for discoloration.
Unfortunately, both coffee and tea are staining.
The naturally occurring chemical compounds in coffee and tea (tannins) contribute to stains, but there’s some good news. One study found that adding 2% milk to your tea can significantly cut down the beverage’s staining power.
Unfortunately for the red wine connoisseurs out there, this is a drink that is also to blame for dark tooth stains.
Red wine is highly acidic and has the ability to roughen your tooth enamel — a phenomenon known as “etching.” Then the dark pigment in the wine starts adhering to your teeth.
The same is true for dark-colored non-alcoholic counterpart drinks, like grape and cranberry juice, as well as dark colas.
Another stain-causing branch of beverages you may not have considered are sports and energy drinks, both popular options for those looking to quench their thirst and get a burst of get-up-and-go.
The acidic fruits we just mentioned, grapes and cranberries, along with blueberries, pomegranate, and others, can cause tooth discoloration.
A staple with Asian dishes, soy sauce is responsible for staining teeth, and so is a favorite ingredient in salad dressings, balsamic vinegar.
When you’re making your favorite stir-fry, opt for a bit of salt and up your ginger. When mixing dressing, go for a creamier consistency with a bit of yogurt or mayonnaise.
If this list of don’ts reflects what you’ve been doing, and you’re dismayed by tooth discoloration, there’s still hope.
After careful research, we at Modern Age Dentistry consider the best in-office teeth whitening treatment to be the Philips Zoom platform. Not only does it produce remarkable results, but it also offers patients multiple benefits:
When you visit us for Philips Zoom whitening treatment, Dr. Saeghi will examine your teeth and answer your questions. Together, you arrive at a decision about what shade you’d like for your teeth.
Dr. Saeghi begins treatment by isolating your teeth and protecting your mouth tissue by putting a cheek retractor, bite block, and cotton into your mouth. When your mouth is fully prepped for treatment, he applies the whitening gel in phases, taking periodic brief breaks.
After treatment, let Dr. Saeghi know if you’re experiencing any sensitivity. He can apply a gel designed to relieve it. After that’s removed, be careful not to eat or drink anything for 30 minutes. Now you can return to work, school, or whatever you need to do — with a newly dazzling smile!
You can preserve your great results by avoiding any staining food and beverages or rinsing your teeth with water after you eat or drink, using a straw if you drink dark liquids, and steering clear of smoking. Dr. Saeghi will also advise a whitening toothpaste for you to use.
Call our Los Angeles, West Hills, or Ojai office to book a whitening appointment, or book one online.
