Seeing an orthodontist to straighten out your smile is one of
the best things you can do for your confidence and your self image. But it’s
important for adult and child patients alike to realize that braces and similar
applications like Invisalign can’t do everything to fix your smile.
Some patients, especially our adult patients—coffee addiction is
real!—may also want to whiter teeth. But recognizing some of the most
contributing factors to yellow teeth and avoiding them, can be one of the best
ways to get rid of the yellow and get back on the “white” track.
If you’re looking to straighten out your smile, of course you
should see Dr. Reed first. But to take that extra step towards a smile that
shines, take note of the following foods and lifestyle choices you might want
to cut out, according to this LiveScience article:
Not surprisingly, dark-colored foods
and beverages — including coffee, red wine, black tea, colas, dark sauces and
various fruits, such as grapes, blueberries and pomegranates — have the
greatest potential to stain teeth. These items are high in chromogens,
pigment-producing substances with a penchant for sticking to tooth enamel.
Acidic foods and beverages can worsen
matters by eroding tooth enamel and making it easier for chromogens to latch
onto the teeth. Tannin, a bitter compound found in wine and tea, also helps
chromogens attach to tooth enamel.
Additionally, smoking and chewing
tobacco are well-known culprits behind extrinsic stains, as is poor dental
hygiene, which allows dental plaque to accumulate on the teeth.
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