A smile’s given importance is universal. A smile, a grin, a laugh—they all illustrate an epitomized confidence, happiness, and great joy. But how you feel about your smile as just as important as how others perceive it. They can be the source of one’s pride, and the source of one’s shame. That’s why it’s so important that you learn what you should eat, or what you shouldn’t eat, in order to properly care for your teeth so you can avoid damage, erosion, or staining. What you eat, drink, or even smoke does in fact matter when it concerns your oral health. Smile Magic Dentistry offers the first rule of thumb—if it can stain your favorite shirt, it can stain your teeth.
Coffee and Black Tea
You’ve probably have certainly heard of coffee staining your teeth, but black tea? Though the debate between coffee and tea is still ongoing, and they both seem to provide some of the same benefits with their own risks, both of these celebrated drinks carry tannins, a naturally occurring dye found in vegetables. Tannins are actually known to quickly stain and plaque your teeth, so it’s best to drink your coffee or tea in moderation in order to avoid this issue.
You may have also heard of tannins when talking about wine—another drink you should set limits on!
Soda and Sports Drinks
Soda shouldn’t come as much as a surprise. The favored carbonated drink is known not only for its great taste, but also for its negative health effects. But what about sports drinks? In this case, sodas and sports drink both have a similar effect on your teeth. They can actually erode tooth enamel, the important outer layer of your tooth, which protects those pearly whites from tooth decay. The best way to avoid this is to drink these from a straw, that way; you avoid having the liquid linger in your mouth for too long and setting its damage on your teeth.
Crackers
Crackers might be good with cheese, and they might be good to help you sleep, but they aren’t as great when it comes to your teeth. Here’s a fair warning for the following semi-graphic description of what happens to crackers once you start to chew—but they do become a sort of paste in your mouth that gets stuck between your teeth. This becomes a sort of breeding ground for cavities. Smile Magic Dentistry says be sure you wash your mouth out once you finish eating to avoid the issue.
Hard Candy
This sugary sweet, as you already know, is not good for your teeth. Here’s another rule—if it stains your tongue, it can also stain your teeth. On top of staining, the glucose, sugar, and everything that makes the candy delicious can also aid in causing cavities, by mixing with the germs already in your mouth and making acid, which is what actually eats holes in your teeth. The best way to avoid cavities is to avoid candies or anything sugary in fewer quantities, and to brush your teeth after you eat these snacks.
The important takeaway is that you can still enjoy these foods, only in moderation. Nothing is good in excess. If you find yourself with pain, visit Smile Magic Dentistry for help!
