Those Stuborn Stains

Staining may be wonderful for wood surfaces but can be troublesome for your pearly white teeth. Chromogenic agents are those often delicious foods and drinks that have a nasty habit of staining your teeth. The staining effect is caused by pigments from the foods becoming trapped in your enamel layer and building up with continued exposure. Pretty much any foods that would stain your tablecloth will stain your teeth.

Keeping your teeth clean and white is a daily process but you can make it easier by avoiding the top culprits of staining. One type of staining is a yellowing or browning process that is created by continuous exposure to foods and consumables like:

    •    Tea
    •    Coffee
    •    Cola
    •    Red Wine
    •    Tobacco Products

Unfortunately, even some healthy foods can be hard on your teeth. The other type of staining is a colouring from heavily pigmented foods such as:
    •    Blueberries
    •    Cherries
    •    Cranberries
    •    Blackberries
    •    Soy Sauce
    •    Beets
   
The degree of staining is based on the frequency and amount of exposure to staining agents. The occasional blueberry muffin won’t cause a lot of discolouration but a pack-a-day smoking habit will yellow your smile in short order.

Help to minimize your risks by rinsing your mouth with water after consuming a known staining agent. Using a straw can help by allowing the staining culprit to sneak past the teeth. If it’s too late for minimizing and time for removing stains, give us a call to discuss options.