When looking at caring for your teeth and the signs of staining, it is important to first start with your diet. Some of our favourite foods that are within our everyday diet could be leading to the erosion of the surface of the tooth, as well as staining your teeth either yellow or a light brown. Although this can be combatted with teeth whitening services in London and other areas of the UK, it is important to try and prevent the damage at the beginning. Here we are going to look at some of the foods to avoid if you want to prevent damage to your teeth.
Coca Cola
One of the biggest culprits for staining of teeth is Coca Cola or other forms of soda. This bubbly sweet drink is a favourite to many, but this can stain the surface of your teeth over time. The brown nature of the drink mixed with the carbonation means that the drink penetrates the surface of the teeth, staining and damaging the surface of the tooth. Although this does take time to have an effect on the surface of the tooth, it is important to substitute this for water or a healthier alternative before the staining occurs.
Balsamic Vinegar
In addition to this, there are a number of acidic foods that will stain the surface of the tooth over time, one of these being balsamic vinegar. This beloved favourite is perfect on chips but can slowly wear away at the enamel on the surface of the tooth. Not only this, but it will leave a brown stain on the bottom of the tooth due to the nature of the vinegar itself. To combat the signs of staining on the teeth, simply cut back on the number of acidic foods that you have within your diet. This will not only help to calm the stomach acid but also protect the teeth from erosion or further staining.
Coffee/ Tea
Another food that can stain your teeth quite substantially is both tea and coffee. Although this is a favourite for many when they wake up first thing in the morning, this could actually be doing your teeth more harm than good. This is particularly true if you are someone that likes to drink black coffee as the dark nature of the drink can lead your teeth to stain. One of the ways that you can prevent this from staining your teeth is to drink your drink through a straw, this will help to protect the front teeth whilst still allowing you to enjoy your drink.
Lemon
Another food that is enjoyable for you but not for your teeth is the Lemon. This is a common ingredient in a number of meals, particularly in the summer, as this is an ingredient that can be added to drinks and salads but the acidity within this fruit can wear down your teeth. Over time this will wear down the front of the teeth and cause permanent damage – although this can be prevented by having veneers or teeth whitening. However, this can also be prevented by rinsing the mouth of the acid and brushing the teeth.
It is important to ensure that you rinse the mouth before brushing as the acid present on the top of the teeth can do more damage when brushed deeper into the tooth. By rinsing out with water beforehand you can ensure that you are not worsening the problem of erosion and caring for your teeth easily.
Although each of these foods tastes great, it is important to enjoy these in moderation, this will not only help to keep your mouth healthy, but it will also help to maintain your diet as a whole.
